Checklist: people parenting alone

If you are parenting alone you can use the lists and links below to check out the main services and entitlements for someone in your situation.

The headings in the left hand column of each section link to general documents on the subject, and those in the right hand column link to details of specific payments or services.

You can find more information on these and other issues in the Birth, Family and Relationships section of this website.

Income supports

Getting a social welfare payment	Social welfare payments for children and families One Parent Family payment Jobseeker's Transitional payment Back to Work Family Dividend Claiming an extra half-rate social welfare payment Working Family Payment Claiming for a child dependent Signing on for the first time
Benefits and entitlements relating to birth and children	Pregnancy and social welfare payments Maternity Benefit Child Benefit
Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme	Getting an interim payment Exceptional Needs and Urgent Needs Payments
Widows and widowers	Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory) Pension Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Non-Contributory) Pension Widowed or Surviving Civil Partner Grant
Housing	Rent Supplement Rental Accommodation Scheme Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) Local authority housing
Health	Medical card GP visit card

Legal information

Breakdown of a relationship	Legal options following marital breakdown Maintenance orders and agreements Barring, safety and protection orders Civil legal aid
Cohabiting people	Legal guardianship and cohabiting couples Access to children and cohabiting couples Custody of children and cohabiting couples
Separated/divorced/civil partnership dissolved/not living with civil partner	Guardianship Custody and access to children
Property	Property rights of cohabiting couples Family and shared homes

Taxation

One-parent family tax credits and reliefs Separation and divorce and income tax credits and reliefs Maintenance and tax

Education

Supports for children	Parents and education Financial help with going to school
Going back to education and training	Back to Education Programme Back to Education Allowance Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme Social welfare payments and the student grant

Going back to work

Employment schemes	Back to Work Enterprise Allowance Short-term Enterprise Allowance Community Employment Rural Social Scheme Tús JobsPlus Work Placement Programme
Returning to work	Part-time work Self employment

Extra benefits

Extra social welfare benefits

Free travel Household Benefits Package Fuel Allowance Diet and Heating Supplements Exceptional and Urgent Needs Payment Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance

Other sources of information

State agencies	Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) Tusla, the Child and Family Agency Family Mediation Service
Voluntary agencies	Treoir One Family