One-parent payment: ‘I’m being stripped of my dignity’

Ashling Lowe (35) has "always worked" since her son Cody (13) was born. She has washed dishes, worked as a hairdresser and, since 2005, has worked as a cleaner in a bank for 10 hours a week in her home town, Trim, Co Meath.

However, she fears she will have to give up her job in July. She is one of thousands of lone parents who will no longer be eligible for the one-parent family payment (OPFP) and is to be moved instead onto jobseeker's allowance (JA).

Under the OPFP she receives €188 a week, plus €29.80 in child dependant allowance. She gets €50 a week in maintenance from Cody’s father. Her cleaning job brings in €94 a week.

“So that’s about €361 a week. It’s enough to keep my head above water, to pay the rent, the bills, feed and clothe us. We go for walks with the dog. The cinema would be a treat. But we manage,” she said.

She will get her last OPFP on June 25th, before being moved on to JA on July 2nd. As her work is spread over five days, she cannot work and claim JA.

Given that she works fewer than 19 hours a week, she will not be entitled to family income supplement (FIS).

‘Information meeting’

“Myself and about 20 other single mothers were asked to an information meeting last week. A woman from the department [of social protection] gave us a presentation. We were told if you work over 19 hours a week, you’d be entitled to FIS. Because I’m not working the 19 hours I don’t qualify for that.

“She said I should ask my employer for more hours, but I’ve been asking for years for more hours. There aren’t more hours in my job. I’m in a catch-22 situation. If I keep working I can’t get jobseeker’s, but I can’t live on €94 a week. So I have to give up my job.”

Her combined income will fall from €361 a week to €267.

“When the woman explained it I was shocked. I just looked at her and cried. I just left and I’ve been crying since. I don’t know how we’ll manage financially but also I feel like I’m being stripped of my dignity, my independence.”