Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

516. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if a person seeking lone parent claim and is estranged from their spouse is obliged to provide utility bills and bank statements for their ex-spouse (details supplied). [46287/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

One parent family payment is made to a parent who is bringing up a child(ren) without the support of spouse or partner. The onus is on the claimant to provide proof that the relationship has ended and that the couple are living separately. The Department has to fully satisfy itself that this is the case before approving payment and is entitled to request any information that it considers necessary in this regard.

When assessing capital for means purposes, the value of any property the claimant has, other than their own home, in which they have to be resident at the time of the claim, is taken into account and a valuation is required for this purpose. The Department takes into account any outstanding mortgage on the property. If the person cannot afford to have the property valued the Department can determine the value of the property based on the current market value of a similar property in the same area.