Rent allowance query for separated woman

Hi
Im asking on behalf of a Lady i have become friends with, that is she is from Lithuania and since arriving in Ireland 5 months ago has separated from her husband (who is of no financial assistance to her). This woman works full time for min.rate and has a woman mind her boy while she works.
At the moment she is living with her boy in apartment (2 bed) which she shares with another lady,this flat mate wants to relocate to west of Ireland. My friend can not afford full rent and barely lives as is,and babysitter is 7 months Pregnant and is no longer able to mind boy.
Any ideas as to what she can do or where she can turn for help.What her entitlements would be for rent allowance?
Sorry about the long windedness.
Regards
Geraldine

I think the best thing is to contact citizens information, i have found them to be very helpful.

Thanks for the reply
Any ideas from anyone just as a rough guide as her next day off is next week,she is quite worried at the moment and i would like to help put her mind at rest.
Thanks
Geraldine

I dont think she will qualify for rent allowance as she is working full time. She will more than likely qualify for family income supplement. She should probably go and talk to the community welfare officer in her local health center.

Persons working over 30 hours per week do not qualify for Supplementary Welfare Allowance (which includes Rent Supplement).

She will also be subject to the Habitual Residence Condition when applying for some Social Welfare payments - in general, she'd have to be resident here for 2 years before being entitled to any means-tested payments. This may rule her out for one-parent family pament, for example, which she might be entitled to. Doesn't stop the lady making an application, but she should be aware that it could be refused on HRC criteria.

FIS is not subject to HRC.

More information on HRC here