Know Your Rights Citizens Information - June

By WicklowNews.net, Apr 23rd 2012, 11:00

Know Your Rights A: Claiming Child Benefit

June 2012

Question

How do I apply for Child Benefit for my new baby and when will it be paid?

Answer

When you register a birth in Ireland, the baby is allocated a Personal Public Service (PPS) Number. The Department of Social Protection automatically starts a claim for Child Benefit if the birth is registered within three months:

• If you are not already getting Child Benefit for another child, the Department creates a new claim and sends you a partially completed claim form for your signature and payment details. This form also tells you how to claim for your new baby online.

(Please note that you can only claim online if the Department invites you to do so.)

• If you are already getting Child Benefit, your new baby is automatically added to your existing claim and payment begins from the month after the birth. The Department will send you a letter confirming payment.

If your child is not born in Ireland, or the birth is not registered within three months, you must fill in a Child Benefit form (CB1). Send the completed form by FREEPOST to the Child Benefit Section, Social Welfare Services, Department of Social Protection, St Oliver Plunkett Road, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal. Lo-call: 1890 400 400.
Child Benefit is paid from the month following your baby’s birth. It is paid on the first Tuesday of every month.

If there is any delay in processing your application the payment will be backdated to when you first applied. If you apply more than a year after your baby’s birth the payment may be backdated if you have a good reason for the late application.

Further information is available from the Citizens Information Centre below

Know Your Rights has been compiled by Co Wicklow Citizens Information Service which provides a free and confidential service to the public.

Bray Citizens Information Centre 3/ 4 The Boulevard, Quinsboro Road Tel: 0761 07 6780
Arklow Citizens Information Centre 73 Lower Main Street Tel: 0761 07 6750
Wicklow Citizens Information Centre 9/10 Lower Mall Tel: 0761 07 6840

Outreach Centres in
Baltinglass Tel: 086 048 1880 Blessington Tel: 086 048 1881
Glendalough Tel: 0404 45611 Carnew Tel: 053 94 26555

Information is also available online at www.citizensinformation.ie and from the Citizens Information Phone Service, Lo-call 0761 07 4000.

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Know Your Rights B: Living with your landlord

June 2012

Question

I am about to rent a room in an apartment and I will be living with my landlord. What do I need to know?

Answer

As you are living in your landlord's home, you do not have a standard tenancy agreement. Instead, you have a 'Licensee Agreement' with your landlord (this also applies if you are living with the spouse, child or parent of a landlord and you do not have a tenancy agreement or written lease).

This means you are in the property by the landlord's consent or invitation and you are not protected under the Residential Tenancies Act 2004. Your landlord is not obliged to register with the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) and you cannot use the dispute resolution service of the PRTB if a disagreement arises between you and your landlord.

You should also be aware of the following:

• Your landlord is not obliged to provide you with a rent book or a statement of rent paid
• Your accommodation does not have to meet any minimum physical standards
• Any notice you may get of the termination of the tenancy is at your landlord’s discretion (although they are obliged to give reasonable notice, the specifics of this notice may vary)
• You are not protected by equality legislation which prohibits discrimination on 9 grounds, including age, sex, religion, race and disability

If you are sharing accommodation with your landlord and are unhappy with the way you are being treated, you could try discussing the situation with him and attempt to resolve any issues between you. If this is not possible you may be able to take your case to the Small Claims Court. This is really the only legal recourse you have as a tenant sharing accommodation with your landlord.

Threshold (threshold.ie) runs a free advisory and mediation service which may help in resolving issues that arise between landlords and tenants.

Further information is available from the Citizens Information Centre below

Know Your Rights has been compiled by Co Wicklow Citizens Information Service which provides a free and confidential service to the public.

Outreach Centres in
Baltinglass Tel: 086 048 1880 Blessington Tel: 086 048 1881
Glendalough Tel: 0404 45611 Carnew Tel: 053 94 26555

Information is also available online at www.citizensinformation.ie and from the Citizens Information Phone Service, Lo-call 0761 07 4000.

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Know Your Rights C: Penalty points

June 2012

Question

How do I find out if I have penalty points on my driving licence?

Answer

Penalty points are not physically recorded on your licence. They are recorded on your driving licence record, which is held on the National Vehicle and Driver File operated by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.

If you have committed a driving offence that incurs penalty points you will get a written notice from the Road Safety Authority (RSA) telling you that penalty points are being added to your driving licence.

This notice will include your name, address, date, time and location of the driving offence concerned and confirmation of the fact that you either paid the fixed charge for the offence or were convicted in the court of such an offence. The notice will also contain the date on which the notice was issued to you. This is important as the points will only be added to your licence 28 days after this date.

Penalty points have a three-year lifespan. That means they will remain on your current driving licence for a period of 3 years from the start date (effective date). Any period where your licence is out of date won't count as part of the 3 years. If you accumulate 12 points and are disqualified for a period of 6 months, the points which led to the disqualification are removed at the end of the 6 months.

To find out how many penalty points are on your driving licence record, contact the Road Safety Authority at 1890 41 61 41 and quote your driving licence number.
All penalty points added to your driving licence are also recorded on the Garda Pulse computer system so the Gardaí know how many penalty points you have on your driving licence.

Further information is available from the Citizens Information Centre below

Know Your Rights has been compiled by Co Wicklow Citizens Information Service which provides a free and confidential service to the public.

Outreach Centres in
Baltinglass Tel: 086 048 1880 Blessington Tel: 086 048 1881
Glendalough Tel: 0404 45611 Carnew Tel: 053 94 26555

Information is also available online at www.citizensinformation.ie and from the Citizens Information Phone Service, Lo-call 0761 07 4000.

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Know Your Rights D: Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance

June 2012

Question

What is the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance?

Answer

The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (BTSCFA) helps you to meet the cost of uniforms and footwear for children going to school or college. In 2012 the age limits changed, and BTSCFA is now paid to children aged from 4 to 22. They must be aged between 4 and 22 on or before 30 September of the year that you apply for the payment. Children aged between 18 and 22 must be in full-time education in a recognised school or college.

The rates have also changed in 2012. The allowance paid for each eligible child aged between 4 and 11 on or before 30 September 2012 is €150. The allowance paid for children aged 12-22 on or before 30 September 2012 is €250.

You (the parent or guardian) must be getting certain social welfare payments or payments for training, employment schemes or adult education for at least 6 weeks between 1 June and 30 September. The scheme operates from June to September each year.

The start date for the 2012 scheme is 1 June 2012.

In 2012 the Department of Social Protection will pay BTSCFA automatically to a large number of qualified people. This means that many families do not have to apply for the payment. However, if you do not receive an automatic payment you must apply for the Allowance. Application forms will be available in all social welfare offices and on the Department’s website welfare.ie.

The Department will examine all applications received and will post updates on welfare.ie on the progress being made in processing them. You will get a letter informing you of the decision on your application and, if it is approved, when and where you can collect your payment.

Further information is available from the Citizens Information Centre below

Know Your Rights has been compiled by Co Wicklow Citizens Information Service which provides a free and confidential service to the public.

Outreach Centres in
Baltinglass Tel: 086 048 1880 Blessington Tel: 086 048 1881
Glendalough Tel: 0404 45611 Carnew Tel: 053 94 26555

Information is also available online at www.citizensinformation.ie and from the Citizens Information Phone Service, Lo-call 0761 07 4000.

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Know Your Rights Citizens Information - June

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