Cllr: Child maintenance is not income

Child maintenance payments should be disregarded when it comes to rent calculations and social housing assessments, Cork County Council members have heard.

Social Democrats councillor Isobel Towse has called on Cork County Council to change its policy regarding child maintenance payments from one parent to another.

Speaking at Monday’s meeting of Cork County Council, Ms Towse said even the higher than average child maintenance sums ordered by court don’t go far when it comes to covering a child’s financial needs.

Cllr Towse said: “I can tell you as a single parent myself that it wouldn’t get you very far. Any parent would tell you that.

“The child maintenance I receive doesn’t cover two days of child care, and that’s not a reflection of my child’s father, he pays more than the average amount,” added the West Cork councillor.

Currently, the maximum that the District Court can order from either parent in child maintenance is €150 per week for each child.

Ms Towse continued: “When the housing office in the council is assessing someone for the housing list, this child maintenance payment is considered as income.

“It might be a small amount, but it unfairly affects many single parents’ chances of receiving housing support.

“When this council is calculating the rent that a single parent should pay, child maintenance is regarded as income, which is just wrong,” Cllr Towse added.

In closing, Cllr Towse said single parents “need this money”.

“It’s for the child and it shouldn’t be putting us at a disadvantage in seeking housing support,” she said.

In support of Cllr Towse’s motion, Independent Ireland councillor for Cobh, Ger Curley, said: “This payment it taken into consideration for rent but when someone goes for a mortgage, this payment is not considered as income, so people who are suffering the most socially are more affected than other sections in our society.”

Fianna Fáil councillor Anne Marie Ahern also supported the motion, reminding members that the purpose of child maintenance payments is “for the expenses of the child only and are not to be used or seen as income for the receiving parent”.

Cllr Ahern said: “I have one case at the moment and the lady is just slightly over the income for social housing based on the income of the maintenance payments, however, she has receipts that are double what the maintenance is for the child’s expenses, so she’s coming out less at the end but unfortunately it just tips her over the threshold.”