More choice for lone parents to help them find the right job

24 November 2008

Thousands of lone parents will be given extra support to help them prepare for work under new benefit rules, which come into force today.

Lone parents of children aged 12 plus will no longer be able to make a new or repeat claim for Income Support solely on the basis of being a lone parent. Instead these lone parents will be able to claim Jobseeker’s Allowance or, if they are not well enough to work, Employment and Support Allowance.

Work and Pensions Minister Kitty Ussher said:

“These changes will help lone parents, who can work, get closer to the labour market, opening up a range of opportunities to get training and skills.

“Specialist lone parent employment advisers will help lone parents prepare for work by building their skills and confidence, as well as offering practical help with CV training and finding appropriate childcare.

“This will give lone parents real choice about their future. At a time when we face global economic challenges, it’s essential that we give people more not less opportunity to find work and support themselves and their families.”

The changes will help the Government reach its target to eradicate child poverty by 2020. A child of a lone parent is three times less likely to be in poverty if they work part-time. This increases to five times less likely if the lone parent works full time.

The Government expects around 750 lone parents a month to make a new or repeat claim for benefit between now and March 2009.

From March 2009 most lone parents of older children, who claim Income Support solely on the basis of being a lone parent, will stop being entitled to this benefit. Instead they will be able to claim Jobseeker’s Allowance or, if they are not well enough to work, Employment and Support Allowance.

The Government plans to further extend this support to lone parents whose youngest child is 10 from 2009 and whose youngest child is seven from 2010.

Notes

The Green Paper, A New Deal for Welfare: Empowering people to work, published by John Hutton in January 2006 first discussed these proposals. They are part of the wider reforms of the welfare system aimed at helping people back in to work.
International evidence indicates that, in the majority of cases, countries with higher lone parent employment rates have lower poverty rates for lone parent households.
In countries where active labour measures are in place, eligibility is often limited to lone parents with a youngest child above a certain age. For example, conditionality in Australia begins when the child is six, in the Netherlands when the child is five, and in France and Germany when the child is three.
Under previous rules lone parents can claim Income Support, solely on the basis of being a lone parent until their youngest child is 16.
Jobcentre Plus staff will ensure that every lone parent is contacted before the changes affect them to give them enough time to claim another benefit or find paid work.
Lone parents whose youngest child is 12 and over will be invited to an interview with an employment adviser to discuss their options. Lone parents whose youngest child is aged between nine and 11 will be invited to more frequent work focused interviews with an adviser.
Some lone parents will continue to receive Income Support if:
- They are in receipt of the middle or highest rate of Disability Living Allowance for one of their children;
- Receive Carer’s Allowance, or;
- Are Fostering.

Media enquiries: For further information please contact Lynn Eccles on 0203 267 5141.

Press office: 0203 267 5144
Out of hours: 07659 108 883
Textphone: 0203 267 5145
Website: www.dwp.gov.uk

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More choice for lone parents to help them find the right job

24 November 2008

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