Did you know…?
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Did you know that unmarried families are not recognised in the Irish Constitution and they do not possess the same legal rights and obligations as the family based on marriage?
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Did you know that having an unmarried father’s name on his child’s birth certificate does not give him ANY guardianship rights in respect of his child?
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Did you know that of the 91,146 who are on One-Parent Family Payment 66,020 are unmarried? That's nearly 73%.
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Did you know that 6.768 of the 19.950 births registered in the first quarter of 2011 were outside of marriage
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Did you know that over half of the births to unmarried parents were to parents at the same address? (www.cso.ie)
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Did you know that there are new laws for cohabitants?
ALERT: New Information for Recipients of Rent Supplement
The reductions, averaging 13%, were introduced on 1st January for new claimants. The new limits will apply to existing claimants when their claims are reviewed or if they move to new accommodation.
Minister Burton flagged in her budget speech that new rent limits would be introduced in 2012 but it was not clear that the changes were imminent.
For further information on the maximum rent levels for each county visit:
www.welfare.ie/EN/Schemes/SupplementaryWelfareAllowance
...........................................................................................................................................Budget 2012
Cumulative changes cause hardship for unmarried parents
The Budget 2012 introduced a range of significant changes that will adversely affect unmarried parents.
Treoir is concerned that the amount of earnings disregard for the purposes of One-Parent Family Payment is to be reduced from to €146.50 to €130 per week in January 2012 for existing as well as new recipients. In addition, further reductions will be introduced over the following four years. Approximately 60% of parents on One-Parent Family Payment also work hence this adjustment will have grave repercussion on their regular income. In addition, the income disregard will be further reduced for new and existing claimants. as follows:
- 2013 to €110
- 2014 to €90
- 2015 to €75
- 2016 to € 60
The upper age limit of the youngest child for new claimants of One-Parent Family Payment will be reduced to 7 years on a phased basis. It will be reduced to 12 years with effect from 2012; 10 years in 2013 and 7 years in 2014.
The changes in the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance will also add great hardship to many struggling unmarried families. The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance will be reduced from €305 to €250 for children aged 12 years or more and from €200 to €150 for children aged 4-11 years.
In addition, there will be an increase in the minimum contribution by tenants towards rent for the purposes of the Rent Supplement Scheme.
The ‘one person, one payment’ policy will be a strong disincentive for unmarried parents to avail of the Community Employment Scheme. This Scheme is an opportunity for unmarried parents to supplement their income, to retain and develop their skills and remain active while they are awaiting an opportunity to return to the labour market.
The cumulative effect of all this changes will lead to further hardship for unmarried parents on social welfare, an already vulnerable group at the edge of poverty.
How does the Budget 2012 impact on lone parents?
Regrettably virtually nothing about the Budget 2012 is advantageous to lone parents. Treoir is extremely concerned at the cuts in the Budget targeted at one-parent families who, as is well documented, are particularly vulnerable to poverty.
The plan to have the income disregard associated with One-Parent Family Payment (OFP) reduced to €130 in 2012 (for current and new claimants) and on a phased basis to €60 in 2016 will result in further barriers being put in the way of lone parents returning to work and a significant reduction in income for those in employment. It is difficult to comprehend this, as the stated policy of the Department of Social Protection is of promoting activation.
While Treoir broadly supported the policy of encouraging and supporting parents to return to work when their youngest child reaches fourteen years of age, we have huge reservations about the proposed new measure which will compel new claimants to cease claiming the OFP and to be available for employment when their youngest child reaches 7 years of age. Treoir's reservations are based on the fact that there are insufficient supports in place e.g. affordable and suitable childcare, educational opportunities for lone parents to enable them to earn an adequate living and a serious lack of job opportunities. More significantly the preferred choice of many lone parents, to work part-time while their children are young, is effectively being denied them.
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Treoir meets Minister for Children
Treoir works to promote the rights and best interests of unmarried parents and their children in Ireland.
Treoir met the Minister for Children, Frances Fitzgerald TD, on the 19th of October 2011 to express its concerns about issues affecting unmarried parents.
Pictured at the meeting in Leinster House were Margaret Dromey (CEO, Treoir); Frances Fitzgerald (Minister for Children); Berit Andersen (Vice Chair, Treoir); and Margot Doherty (Assistant CEO, Treoir).
Other Treoir recent submissions include:
Launch of 'Being there for them' New Edition
“My son’s relationship has ended and I don’t see my grandchild anymore. What can I do?”
“I’m minding my grandchild full-time. Can I get legal rights to my grandchild (guardianship)?”
“My son’s girlfriend has just had a baby. What are his legal rights?”
These are some of the questions that are answered in Being there for them, a guide for grandparents of children whose parents are unmarried.
Produced by Treoir, the National Specialist Information Service for Unmarried Parents, and funded by the HSE Crisis Pregnancy Programme, Being there for them was launched at the Mansion House by Andrew Montague, Lord Mayor of Dublin, on Wednesday 19th October.
Lord Mayor, Andrew Montague, said at the launch:
"Grandparents are national treasures who provide substantial support to parents and grandchildren. But often, when they need information, they don’t know where to turn. There is comprehensive information in Being there for them with helpful hints for grandparents."
Grandparents of children whose parents are unmarried can find themselves in many different situations. They may:
- have their adult children and their grandchildren living with them
- be parents of young parents
- be providing full-time care of their grandchildren
- be grandparents who are not in touch with their grandchildren.
Being there for them provides helpful hints and valuable information to grandparents in all of the above situations, which sometimes can be very challenging.
The launch was part of Parents’ Week 2011.
Copies of Being there for them are available free from Treoir, info@treoir.ie
or LoCall 1890 252 084.
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Treoir Cohabitants Campaign
The Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 introduced new rights and responsibilities for cohabitants, opposite and same sex, who are living together for 5 years and for 2 years where they have a child.
The Family Support Agency has funded Treoir to run an information campaign around the cohabitants part of the Act. The radio campaign commenced on Tuesday 19th of April and ran for a number of weeks.
The new campaign leaflet 'Cohabitants - new legal rights and obligations for opposite and same sex couples' can be downloaded from our website or contact bella@treoir.ie to order copies or call 1890 252 084.
Pictured at the launch were Margaret Dromey (CEO, Treoir), Leonie Lunny (Chair, Treoir) and Pat Bennett (CEO, Family Support Agency).
Please Note
: if your relationship ended either through break-up or death prior to the enactment of this Act, January 2011, these rights and obligations do not apply.
