Social Welfare and Prison

Anybody know what social welfare is there for a person whose husband is in prison?

I'm 27 and am up in court next month and am expecting prison. I don't expect any sympathy but this has been hanging over me for a while. I'm just trying to make the best of things for my family right now.

I was working in construction but have been self employed since things have been bad and doing OK. We have 3 kids aged 5, 3 and 2 and have been married a year. I have a mortgage and have been paying intrest only for the past year and have some other debts too. My wife works part time but wouldn't be able to if I'm not around.

I know I have to take the consequences but don't want my wife or kids to suffer as they didn't do anything wrong.

There used to be a Prisoner's Wife's Allowance but it seems to have been supplanted by OPFP a while back:

http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Schemes/BirthChildrenAndFamilies/OneParentFamilies/Pages/pwa.aspx

Prisoner's Wife's Allowance was closed off to new applications with effect from 2 January 1997 when One-Parent Family Payment was introduced. Prisoner's Wife's Allowance is a means tested payment made to women under 66 years of age whose husband is in prison and who have no dependent children.

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http://www.citizensinformation.ie/e...s_and_children/one_parent_family_payment.html

If your spouse/civil partner is in prison:

• He/she must have been sentenced to at least six months in prison or have spent at least six months in custody.

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There may be other SW entitlements in this context - best for your wife to contact SW if/when the time comes I guess?

MIS may be relevant here too?

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/e...are_schemes/mortgage_interest_supplement.html