Entitlements for newly separated with no income.

Hi, I'd appreciate some advice from those in the know, I've been reading the forum and looking at the welfare.ie site and am somewhat confused about how to proceed.
I have 3 children under 5 and my husband has left the family home (which is massive neg equity and we are paying a reduced amount on mortgage). He is employed and making about 480 per week. I have no income other than child benefit.
He is willing to keep paying the mortgage on the house for the next few months, after which I will need to fund it or move out and hand it back to him.

As far as I can see I cannot apply for OPFA until we have been seperated for 3 months, but I'm not sure what I am supposed to do until then. Can I apply for jobseekers allowance?(I wouldn't qualify for JB and will be looking for work)? Presumably that will take some considerable time to process, in the meantime I am without any money at all.

Can anyone advise what my next step should be? Thank you.

Apply at your local sw office for jobseekers allowance. You will more than likely be asked for proof of your efforts to seek employment. Once this claim is registered you can go to your community welfare officer and apply for supplementary welfare allowance as an interim measure.

If you are available for and looking for work, then you may qualify for Jobseeker's Allowance which is means-tested. You are correct in saying that you can't apply for One Parent Family Payment until you've been separated for 3 months.

You may have an entitlement to Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA), which is administered by staff at your local Health Centre (formerly called Community Welfare Officers) if you have no income and are awaiting a decision on either Jobseekers or One Parent Family Payment.

You should also be seeking maintenance from your husband, as he is liable to maintain his children.

You should seek legal advice regarding the house and mortgage.

seek professional advice immediately. Look up Free Legal Advice Centres etc. or go down to the local womens refuge who might be able to advice the next step.

Your husband is kidding himself if he thinks he can throw you out of the family home or stop paying the mortgage. He is obliged to provide for his family.

The most important thing is to not give up possession of the home. Even if he stops paying the mortgage, you'll have any amount of time before the bank will start proceedings.