Rent allowance and maintenance

S

sasha

Guest
Hey new to this so please go easy on me!

I'm in dire need of advice and have no idea where to go right now. I'll give you brief background of my situation.

I am on Disablility allowance and finished in a CE scheme a month ago.

Applied for rent allowance and sent in all relevent documentation.

Received letter yesterday looking for 'verification of maintenance payments'. I called them and explained that my ex gives me €20 a week, but also takes child all weekend (therefore gives me break and up to a month ago I could work in CE scheme and not pay childcare) and will also be spending money on her then (clothes/food etc). It costs him about €25 in petrol alone to come and collect her and bring her back.

Anyhow...I was told I had to issue court proceedings?! Can anyone advise me about this? Can they force me to do this, even though he is paying me maintenance?

I know if I force this with him, he will not be able to afford to take child at weekends, and that would break her heart as they have a fantastic relationship. I am also in a bad way with my health and really dont need this right now.

I should also add that I discovered about 3 months ago that I should have been receiving a small amount of rent allowance while doing CE scheme, and the local CWO paid these arrears and nothing was ever said about the maintenance.

Id really appreciate some help here, I genuinely dont know what to do, and feel at a loss..

sorry for long winded post.
 
Maintenance received up to €95.23 pw is assessed in full as income when calculating entitlement to Rent Supplement, so the SWA Officer is looking for evidence of the amount being paid.

I take it that the amount being given by the child's father is an unofficial (i.e. not legal) arrangement, and you have no documentation? Ask if a letter from the child's father stating the amount of maintenance paid will be okay - if it isn't then something more official will be required.
 


Thanks for your reply gipimann.. yes your right, its been an unofficial arrangement since we split up. Can they force me to take him to court for more maintenance? I really do not want to have to do that, as I am aware that he does spend money on her and has her all weekend for which he travels up and down to collect/bring her home.

This arrangement has suited both of us to date..and allows him to spend time with his daughter and she him. If he has to pay me more he will not be able to see her as often and I think that is terrible on both.
 
I wouldn't be aware of any obligation to start court proceedings, but as I mentioned, the officer may have been looking for something official to confirm the maintenance paid.

I'd try the letter from him first and see how that goes.
 
Hi,

Could you get him to write a letter stating your arrangement and amount of maintenance paid and then ask him to get it stamped by a commissioner of Oaths? I'm sure that would be ok.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register