Need to know
Some parents may be unaware that they could be eligible to claim the handy payment of over €250 a week – here’s everything you need to know and how to apply for it
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Parents may be unaware if they are eligible to claim a weekly payment. The One-Parent Family Payment (OFP) is a payment for people under 66 who are bringing children up without the support of a partner – here’s everything you need to know.
- The One-Parent Family Payment (OFP) is a payment for people under 66 who are bringing children up without the support of a partner. To get OFP, your children must be under a certain age.
- You can work and get OFP. However, to get OFP your income must be below a certain amount.
- To qualify for the One-Parent Family Payment (OFP) you must be aged under 66, e the parent, step-parent, adoptive parent or legal guardian of a child under a certain age, be the main carer of at least one child under the age limit. The child must live with you. OFP is not paid if the parents have joint equal custody of a child or children, pass a means test, live in Ireland and meet the habitual residence condition and not be living with a spouse, civil partner or cohabiting.
- To get the One-Parent Family Payment (OFP) you must have at least one child under 7 years of age. There are certain exceptions to this.
- Your OFP will stop when your youngest child reaches the age limit. The Department of Social Protection (DSP) will tell you the end date for your payment.
- You may get the Jobseeker’s Transitional payment. This is a payment for people parenting alone whose children are aged between 7 and 14 (the payment ends when the youngest child reaches 14).
- The maximum weekly personal rate is €254.
- To apply fill in a One-Parent Family Payment application form. Send it with your supporting documents to the Department of Social Protection.
- If you are widowed or a surviving civil partner, you should apply within 3 months of your spouse’s or civil partner’s death.
- If you are single, you should apply within 3 months of the birth of your child.
- If you are separated, divorced or no longer in a civil partnership, you must have been living apart for 3 months before applying for the One-Parent Family Payment.
For more details of the One-Parent Family Payment, click here.
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