Change in benefits for Lone Parents

[MsPontipine]

I went to my annual LP advisor meeting at the JobCentre today - was rather stunned by the proposed but very likely changes.

It was a bit much to take in but basically by 2010 I think lone parents with youngest child 12 or older will no longer be able to claim Income Support on LP grounds and will be required to sign on and claim Jobseekers Allowance and look for work.

Another couple of years and that age will be reduced to 7.

There are various incentives, grants etc but that appears to be the long and short of it.

I was pretty stunned - mostly I think because this is the first I've heard of this. I am not an avid news watcher but I'm not a complete ostrich.

Food for thought. . . . . .

Yes, Amazin. That's the situation I just described. My dd has friends, twins actually, who get £30 a week each to stay in the 6th form at private school. The mother is the 'resident' parent and does a bit of part time work for pin money. The father earns about 100 K and pays school fees. It's a perfectly amicable relationship with the girls going between the two homes. It's not fraud. It'a a loophole because we have a shit system that says if two parents decide to separate, they can offload responsibility for their own kids onto other taxpayers, most of whom earn less than them.

surely the issue then is getting non resident parents to pay maintenance. Not about the "hatred" that seems to be for lone parents being better off than couples.

Alfiesbabe - there's not much to stop my child's father helping me with childcare in order that I can go out to work. Well, apart from the fact that he refuses to and no one is going to make him. Why should anyone go to the trouble of tracking him down and making him provide for his three children, when their mothers are sitting ducks?

And as for both of a couple 'having' to work - at least there are two of you to earn. How do you think it must be for a single parent who has nobody to fall back on, nobody to share the responsibility, nobody to earn a second income? But the same bills, rent, growing children... If you need two incomes to survive, a single parent hasn't a chance in hell.

In an ideal world both parents would share the responsibility for their children, whether they are still together or not. But thats not the case for all too many single parents. My ex has absolved himself of the responsibility, and yet again it seems that society thinks I should do more and more to make up for it.

i agree with Stripymama - if people think it is impossible for TWO adults to earn enough money to keep a family going, then imagine how hard it is for one!

Couples DO have a choice, as i said earlier, when i was with dp we survived off his 18k wage for around 5yrs.
So all these parents claiming they HAVE to work, merely mean they have to work so they can still afford their large house, childcare, cars and other luxuries they they CHOSE to accumulate. They are choosing to keep up the lifestyle they have become accustomed to.
Obviously if your dp is on around 12k then this is different, but there are not many fathers who earn that little, unless of course they are studying!

If my family of four managed to live off 18k a year plus tax credits, then ANYONE can.

Its a couple's CHOICE if they would rather not lose the house/car rather than keep their kids away from childcare, IMHO

Our benefits system does need an overhaul - its meant to be a safety net not a lifestyle choice.

The proposals coming into effect 2010 where once a child is aged 7 a parent claiming benefits is expected to work is not unreasonable. They have said that all schools will have wrap-around childcare at this point so that mums have more choice in the hours they can work.

Incapacity is also being looked at and changed so its not just one part they are amending.

If you are phyisically able to work then you should support your own family and not expect anybody else too. At age 7 it still means you can have claimed for 7 years.

Cutting down the time out of work means it should also mean its easier to get a job as the absences from work wont be as long.

I feel like I'm reading the Conservative party manifesto sometimes on here.

This is all very well in theory but it is very top down. Has anyone here who thinks it is a good idea, actually been a single parent?

'schools will have wrap-around childcare at this point so that mums have more choice in the hours they can work.' But wouldn't it be better to have more flexible jobs (ie school hours) rather than stick kids in school for 10 hours a day!

I do think alfiesbabe that you are missing the point somewhat. Yes I agree with the scenario that you decribe, a husband/partner working 7 til 7, its going to be difficult for the mother to get a job. But that mother still has something to fall back on, her partners wages. A single parent does not have that. How is this going to work btw? Will benefit suddenly be withdrawn? How will they enforce it?

Well then we really wont have anything to fall back on will we?

You cant assume that a benefit claimant whose child reaches the age of 7 has been claiming for 7 years. What if, say they were made redundant 6 months previous? What then? Are we going to kick their lazy arses? Or will each case be judged on its own individual merit?

You still have not answered my question. If, in the situation I described, you had £17.00 a week to pay all your bills, and feed and clothe your child/ren, would you have carried on working? (no credit card to live on) No person in their right mind would. No person in their right mind could.

Summary of Changes

In his speech to the TUC on September 10th, 2007, the Prime Minister announced the introduction of five new initiatives for Lone Parents, from April 2008. The four listed below come within the remit of Products and Services Management Division (PSMD) and are therefore within the scope of this assessment

1 A Guaranteed Job Interview for every Lone Parent who is looking for and ready for work.

2 New support for Lone Parents in finding work, including through the offer of Group Seminars and closer working with employers.

3Greater flexibility in the use of Work Trials, allowing them to be extended for up to 6 weeks, where appropriate.

4 The national roll out of In-Work Credits, which have been successfully piloted in supporting Lone Parents in the difficult transitional period after starting work.

Qualifying Conditions

Group Seminars: Lone Parents whose youngest child is already aged 11 and over (i.e. up to age 15) will be invited to a Group Seminar, to enable them to understand how Jobcentre Plus and our partners can help them prepare to return to work, how the local labour market works and explain the requirements of Jobseekers Allowance (JSA).

Work Trials: Participants in New Deal for Lone Parents (NDLP), and other lone parents, can work for participating employers for up to 3 weeks; giving the employer the chance to assess the Lone Parent before offering them permanent work. We are going to extend Work Trials to up to 6 weeks nationally for Lone Parents.

In Work Credit: In Work Credit (IWC) is a £40 per week (£60 in London) payment made only to Lone Parents (all parents in London) who have been on benefits for 12 months but leave to a job of 16 hours or more. IWC will be made available nationally from April 2008.

Implementation

plan to implement these measures, in North & North East London District from January 2008, and nationally from April* 2008.

"And if both parents take responsibility so that even if they decide to split, they carry on parenting their children, there's nothing to stop a child staying with each parent some of the time, or the 'absent' parent coming round to do their share of putting the child to bed. You don't stop being a parent just because you no longer live together".

With this bit you're preaching to the choir! ...I think there's quite a few single mums who would love this to be a reality.

Many mothers with babies who are married work full time so I don't see why they shouldn't as single mothers particularly as they're expecting people like me - single mothers with 5 children who get no support (financial or practical) from the children's father and don't even get tax credits or anything except child benefit.

I think under 6 too should have to work as most married women with children under 5 have to work anyway in the UK. Perhaps a compulsory state childcare place could be provided if your child is under 5 and your wages won't be high enough to pay market rates for child care.

Xenia, you dont get tax credits because you earn too much. You have already told us many times how successful you are so I dont see how you can compare.

Anyway, That sounds great scottishmummy.

But, I dont need a seminar to tell me how to look for a job. I know how to look for one.

A guaranteed interview would be lovely, doesn't mean the hours will be possible...doesn't mean childcare will be available.

In work credits...fantastic..but will they be paid on time?

What happens during and after work trials if the employer decides you're not suitable? (They've done their bit after all). Do you come off benefits during a work trial? Will your in work credit be paid during this time? Its only 3 weeks, are the IR going to work that fast? If you're not suitable, what do you live on then? Will you be able to claim benefit for a while until your next guaranteed interview, will the DWP take 3 months to start paying it?

Will this really be any different to the system we have now? When you're totally at the mercy of Tracy at the IR who cant be assed to process your claim, because to her, its just another bit of paper in her tray..and she's stressed and overworked as it is?

i don't think teh government should go after any lone parent until they start first going after the absent parent who left the state to pick up the tab for the family they abandonded.

I don't understand why some people are so obsessed with getting lone parents into work, think of that MP recently who took £50,000 to give to his son and all the other simelar things (lord Irvines 650,000 flat decor bill, the Iraq war etc)what single parents get is peanuts compared to the people who take the p@ss but because there is one rule for them (and maybe the rich non tax payers too)and another for the ordinary person (especially the vunerable). I have noticed though that some working mums in couples don't like the fact that (they percieve) lone parents can stay home when they can't. But I agree there is more choice and things are alot easier in general for two parent families.

Thanks expat - my point exactly!

Also, these 'stats' that most women work I am not sure about, I believe the vast majority work part time and the number is not that high with those below school age. There is only one mum out of my DS class who works about 8-6 everyday, most work part time of those who work, but the vast majority stay home.

expat - just because some of us are single parents, it does not mean that all of us were abandoned by useless men who run away - some of us just decided the relationship wasnt really working..
you made it sound like we were all previously attached to complete wasters!

jellybean, perhaps you live in a v wealthy area?

I dont think expat was saying that allgonebellyup, but she has a point. A very valid point.

Who is making my exp work?

Noone.

He planned this baby with me, as it happened we split mutually because I couldnt take anymore of his crap. But it was amicable at the time.

Now he can sit an his bum, not work and pay me nada.

Seems its ok to pay his dole. Yup, no problem mate, here, you enjoy it...Why is he any less responsible for that child than I am?

a lot of lone parents don't get financial support, allgone.

which is why so many find themselves able to get a job and still support themselves and their children and/or have very serious issues with childcare - there's no one to back them up.

exactly, LBA!

Most women with under 5s work who are married. It's only the unemployed who think they can not work and use child care an issue right up to having children aged even 12 and 16. Surely a better alternative is you continue to get your benefits without any break but the state provides you with free childcare and work for the value of the benefits unless and until you can get a real job.

Xenia, what did you do when your kids turned 12?

I have always worked, but have a real problem now that my son is 12. There isnt any childcare here once children turn 12 (I have checked and double checked with the local council)

Im not happy about leaving him for hours alone in the summer holidays. But i have no family support and am widowed

how do you cope?

We're at a different income end of the spectrum and had children of different ages. When the first 3 turned 12 I had twins so once again hired a full time daily nanny and she did the older children after school too - all 5 children at our house. Also we have had since the youngest were at school someone who would come after school - do an after school pick up and take them back to our house for an hourly rate - we just advertise in the local paper and there are loads of people out there from the retired to part timers to students who would like to work for 2 or 3 hours in the afternoon.

Holidays - loads of couples both work full time so what they do is and mysister actually a single mother -her twins are doing 2 weeks of a day camp thing where you play and do art etc this holiday. People with space often hire an au pair who will do 5 hours a day and probably could have a 12 year old for more than that in the summer holiday anyway. They don't cost that much but you need space in your house but it's worth it if you can pursue a career you'll benefit and the child will benefit from until you're 65 just to tide you over for a few years.

And now I have 3 student children and they are around for the youngest 2 as well. So in a sense I have bred my childcare!