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GAZETTE
APRIL 1977
SOCIETY OF YOUNG SOLICITORS
6. GUIDELINES - FAMILY LAW
BREAKDOWN OF MARRIAGE
SOCIAL WELFARE BENEFITS ON DESERTION
(A) DESERTED WIFE'S BENEFIT
(1) This is payable to a wife where she is
(a) Deserted for at least three months and
(b) Receiving no money from her husband and
(c) If childless, aged over forty and
(d) Resident in the State for any two years and
(e) Either herself or her husband has the necessary
number of Social Welfare Stamps (i.e. 156
contributions before the desertion date paid on
a yearly average of at least thirty-nine in either
the three or the five years before the desertion).
Note:
The wife can still get the benefit if in receipt of
income from a source other than her husband but where
she is entitled to a State pension she must opt either for
the pension or the Deserted Wife's Allowance.
(2) How to Claim
Claim forms may be obtained from and should be
submitted to the Department of Social Welfare,
Phibsboro Tower, Dublin 7.
(3) What evidence is required for Payment?
Department of Social Welfare will send an officer to
investigate each case and to see that the wife qualifies
under all of the headings listed above. She will also have
to show that she has taken maintenance proceedings
against her husband if she knows his address or will have
to show that she tried in every way reasonably possible to
trace him by contacting the Garda, the I.S.P.C.C. and the
Salvation Army.
If the husband is on the dole no allowance is payable
but on an application by the wife, the unemployment
exchange will pay a part of his dole directly to her.
(4) How much is Payable under Deserted Wife's Benefit?
The maximumfigure is £12.60 per week for a wife and
£4.25 per week for each child under eighteen or under
twenty-one if a student.
(B) HOME ASSISTANCE
(1) Where wife is deserted for less than 3 Months
Here a wife may be entitled to
Home Assistance
if she
can show the local assistance officer that she is unable to
support herself or her children and she will be given a
small amount of money and food, fuel or other
necessaries at the discretion of the officer. This assistance
is given on a weekly basis and may also be given where
the wife cannot qualify for a Deserted Wife's Benefit
under the headings (c) and (d) above.
(2) How to Apply
Contact the Regional Health Board or, if none, the
local County Council.
BREAKDOWN OF MARRIAGE
SOURCES OF ASSISTANCE
Name
Address
Service
A.I.M.
44 Lower Mount St
Dublin 2.
Family Law
Information and
Reform.
ADAPT
P.O. Box 673,
Dublin 4.
P.O. Box 84,
Cork.
Limerick Social
Service Centre,
Henry Street,
Limerick.
Broleek, Ravensdale,
Dundalk, Co. Louth.
Advice for deserted
and alone parents.
ALLY
Dominican Priory,
Upper Dorset St,
Dublin 1.
Information and
family placement for
single mothers.
CHERISH
2 Pembroke St,
Dublin 2.
Assistance for single
mothers and legal and
social reform.
Catholic Marriage
Advisory Council
35 Harcourt St,
Dublin 2.
Phone 01-780688.
Details of branches
throughout the country
can be obtained from
above.
Advice and support in
the area of marital
relationships.
Marriage
Counselling
Service
43 Molesworth St,
Dublin 2.
Phone 01-764659.
Counselling service on
marriage associated
with the Church of
Ireland.
Irish Woman's
Aid Society
P.O. Box 791,
Dublin 1.
»
Help and
accommodation for
battered wives.
(C) SOCIAL ASSISTANCE ALLOWANCE
(1) Where there is no Social Insurance Cover
In this case a deserted wife may qualify for a
Social
Assistance Allowance
if she qualifies under all of the other
headings for the Deserted Wife's Benefit and passes a
means test. This allowance is payable at the same rate as
the non-contributory widow's pension.
(2) How to Claim
Claim forms may be obtained from and should be
submitted to the Department of Social Welfare,
Phibsboro Tower, Dublin 7.
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