DOMESTIC ABUSE
Your Money
Many women living in abusive relationships depend on their partner for money. This can be part of the pattern of abuse. Your partner may be on social welfare or a company director - in both cases it is likely that he will control the money. When you leave an abusive relationship, your money situation may change in two ways. Firstly, you may now have greater control over how money is spent. Secondly, the amount of money you have for yourself and your children may change significantly.
Where will I get the money to start again?
If you do not have enough money to meet your basic needs or those of your children, you are entitled to make an application to the Department of Social Protection for emergency financial assistance. Department of Social Protection staff in your local health centre can be a source of help and information. You can also visit the Department of Social Protection offices and speak to an advisor. A support worker from women’s services can help and will go with you to any appointments.
Who can I talk to about applying for financial support?
You can get information on your entitlements to financial support from your nearest Citizen's Information Centre (CIC), your local Department of Social Protection Offices, or women's refuge/support services. They can also help you to apply and may be able to go with you as support.
If you have debt problems and want help with them, you can talk to someone in your nearest Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS). They don't make payments but can help you with managing your money. They work out a budget with you, negotiate with your creditors and advise on rights and entitlements. If there are debts, MABS can advise you on whether you are responsible for paying them. If they are your ex-partner's debts you may not be responsible.
What assistance can I get from the Department of Social Protection?
The Department of Social Protection is responsible for a wide range of payments including: one parent family, disability benefit, jobseeker's allowance and jobseeker's benefit.
You will have your individual situation assessed by social protection staff to find out if you are eligible for a payment. You can apply for a social welfare payment at your nearest Department of Social Protection office.
Can I get money from my ex-partner?
Your ex-partner may be required by law to financially support you and/or your children. This payment is called maintenance. Maintenance is usually a regular on-going payment, but may include a property transfer or a lump sum payment. Maintenance arrangements can be made by agreement between you and your ex-partner. You can go to court for a 'maintenance order' if you cannot agree on maintenance, or if the arrangements are not satisfactory. Either partner can go back to court at any time to ask for a change in the amount of maintenance being paid.
By law both parents have financial responsibility towards their children. It does not matter if you are married, unmarried, divorced or separated.
It is important to arrange a way for payment that you are comfortable with and that minimises the risk of further abuse. One option is to ask for the maintenance to be paid directly to the court services. The money will then be lodged into your bank account.
What if he doesn’t pay?
Inform the court if your partner breaks the maintenance order by not paying you the right amount of money at the right time, as steps can be taken to enforce payment. You can ask your solicitor to do this. If your partner/ex-partner continues to refuse to pay, the Department of Social Protection will take your reduced income into account if you make a claim. In order to make a claim you will need to go to the family court clerk to get a statement of payments from your partner so that you can show how your income is affected by the missed payments.
If he is paying maintenance, does that give him an automatic right to see the children?
No. Paying maintenance does not give a parent visiting or access rights. Visiting rights depend on agreement between you and your ex-partner, or on an access order granted by the court.
