New Social Security Regulations aimed at lone parents announced in Northern Ireland

The Minister for Social Development, Margaret Ritchie, this week introduced new regulations for approval which would provide opportunities for paid work to more lone parents and intends to support them in creating a better standard of living for themselves and their families.

 

 

The purpose of the regulations, which were approved following a short debate, is to implement new arrangements for lone parents with older children who claim income support solely on the grounds of being a lone parent. Instead of continuing to receive income support until their youngest child turns 16, parents who are able to undertake paid work may claim jobseeker’s allowance when their youngest child reaches 12; by 2010, they will be able to do so when their youngest child reaches the age of seven. With support and assistance, those parents will be required to look for paid work that is appropriate to their individual situation.

To ensure a smooth transition, the changes are being phased in, starting with lone parents of children who are over the age of 12. Lone parents who have a disability or health-related condition that limits their capability to work may be able to claim employment and support allowance. The regulations do not apply to lone parents who are entitled to income support on other grounds, such as those who are in receipt of carers allowance or those who foster. Lone parents who have a child for whom the middle or highest rate care component or disability living allowance is payable will remain eligible for income support.

To ensure further that the change does not compromise children’s welfare, the regulations designate lone parents as a vulnerable group so that the jobseeker’s allowance hardship regime may apply in certain circumstances.

The regulations also include transitional protection for lone parents who receive income support and are full-time students; lone parents who are undertaking a work-related qualification; lone parents who are undertaking work placements in the Department for Employment and Learning’s Steps to Work programme; and lone parents who are on an approved New Deal for lone parents scheme.

Lone parents in those categories will remain entitled to income support until their youngest child reaches the age that is in force at the time at which they commence their studies.

To provide opportunities to prepare and support lone parents for the change, the regulations include the introduction of mandatory, quarterly work-focused interviews in the last year in which they are eligible for income support. The changes that are set out in the regulations form part of a package of ongoing welfare reform and are intended to contribute to the strategy to eradicate child poverty.