Illness Payments

What is the One Parent Family Payment?

The One Parent Family Payment (OFP) is a means tested payment made to men or women who are caring for and bringing up a child without the support of a partner

What Are The Criteria?

• You are under the age of 66 years

• You have the main care and charge of at least one relevant child that is living with you

• You must be the legal guardian of the child

• You are not cohabiting

• You are not part of a joint custody agreement

• You satisfy a means test

• You satisfy habitual Residency criteria

If You are Separated, Divorced or part of a Civil Partnership Dissolution

You must be:

• living apart for more than 3 months

• inadequately maintained by spouse or civil partner

• seeking maintenance and continue to seek maintenance

to be eligible

If a spouse or civil partner is in prison for a period of 6 months or more, there is eligibility.

What is meant by the term ‘Relevant Child’?

You can claim for a relevant child if:

• You have the main care and charge of that child

• They are under age 7yrs

• They can be up to 18yrs provided the youngest child is under 7yrs

• They can be 18 to 22 and in full-time education by day at a recognized school or college, providing the youngest child is under 7yrs

There are two exceptions to this rule:

• OPFP and Blind Pension came be claimed at the same time until the youngest child reaches the age of 16years

• Those in receipt of Domiciliary Care Allowance may stay on OPFP until the child reaches the age of 16yrs or the youngest child reaches 7years, whichever comes later

How Does Maintenance Affect a OPFP?

These are a few points to consider:

• All maintenance is assessed as means, both spousal and child related

• Disregard for housing costs – to a maximum of €95.23

• Proof of rent or mortgage costs must be provided

• Remaining income is halved and deducted from the payment

Seeking Maintenance and OPFP

These are a few points to consider:

• Where a person was not married or part of a civil partnership they do not have to seek maintenance to get a OPFP. However, to continue to receive payment, efforts must be made to seek maintenance

• Where a former partner, spouse or civil partner is liable for but is not paying enough maintenance then he/she must make a contribution to DSP toward the cost of the OFP (Liable Relative rule)

What Happens To OPFP When You Work?

These are a few points to consider:

• There is no upper earnings limit

• All income is taxable

• There is an Income disregard of €165per week.

• Half of income over €165 is assessed as means

• Claimants may also receive Working Family Payment (WFP) at the same time