2. What is a single parent?
• A single parent is a parent who lives alone with their
children and is responsible for their day-to-day
upbringing, well being and other needs just as a set
of parents would be responsible if they were
together.
• Circumstances often dictate whether or not a parent
will become single - and indeed remain single - but
through this period of singular parentage they are
entitled to help and assistance if required as well as
financial assistance from the other parent if they are
not living at home.
3. The Life of a Single Parent
Issues:
• The normal stress of being a parent!
• Working life
• Money
• Coping with the loss of a partner
• Contact with other parent
• Social stigma and stereotypes
• Outcomes of children
7. Single parents
Demographics
• In UK, there are 5.9 million single parents , with 3.1 million children.
Office for National statics 2007
• 24% of all children live in a single parent family.
Office for National statics 2007
• About 1 out of 4 families with dependent children are single-parent
families, nine percent of which have a male single-parent.
Office for National statics 2007
8. Single parents
Demographics
• Nearly a quarter (24%) of children lived with just one parent last
year, three times the proportion recorded in 1972.
Report Office for National Statistics 2007
• Nine out of 10 lone-parent families are headed by mothers.
Office for National Statistics 2010
9. Single parents
Poverty and debt
• 31% of lone parents have a weekly household income below £200 per
week
• UK poverty figures show that 47% of single parent families are below
the Government-defined poverty line (after housing costs).
Department of Work and Pensions 2006/07
• In 2005, 66% of single-parent families lived in rented housing
compared with 22% of couples with dependent children .
Report from Office for National Statics 2007
10. Benefits
1. Income Support
– £65.45/week
– Exempt from council tax
1. Child Benefit
– £20.30/week for 1st child
– £13.40/week for each subsequent child
1. Child Tax Credit
– Family elements: £545/yr (everyone)
– Baby element: £545/yr (every child <1yr in house)
– Child element: £2300 per yr per child
1. Housing Benefit
– Cover full cost of council rent
11. 5. Healthy start vouchers (milk/fresh fruit and
veg/infant formula milk)
• £6.20/week <1yr old
• £3.10/week 1-4 yrs old
• Free school meals after 4yrs old
5. Free prescriptions/NHS Dentistry/sight tests
(as long as parent is on income support)
6. Subsidised glasses
7. Reimbursement of travel costs for NHS
treatment
8. ½ price bus and tram passes (£332/yr)
12. The ‘Poverty Threshold’
• 2007/08
– £195/week (60% of median income calculated
for single adult with 2 dependant children
under 14yrs)
– After housing costs (including water)
• For our case- she received £205.57/week
(not including housing benefit)
– £10,689 per annum
13. After the weekly shopping…
• Our case has £205.57 to spend each
week…
– £110/week shopping
– Gas/electricity :approx £20-30/week (winter
months)
– Travel: £7/week
– TV License: approx £3/week
– Clothes
– Toys
14. The Weekly Shopping List
• Formula (0-6months) £9 – breastfeeding?
• Formula (ages 1+) £9
• Nappies (6months and for older children) - £8 for 30 – 5/day, 2 packs
• Sudocream
• Cotton wool balls
• Baby wipes- 3 packs @ £2 each
• Baby grows for 6month baby
• 14 pots of baby food – £5
• Vegetables/pasta/meat/bread/(to make baby food for older child)
• Porridge (breakfast for 2yr old)
• Snacks for 2yr old
• Food for herself (roughly £30-40, including food to make for 2yr old)
• Drinks for herself
• Toiletries and personal hygiene = £10
– Roughly £110 minimum
15. The Life of a Single Parent:
Discussion Points
Issues:
• The normal stress of being a parent!
• Working life
• Money
• Coping with the loss of a partner
• Contact with other parent
• Social stigma and stereotypes
• Outcomes of children
16. Outcomes
• Family patterns and dynamics
• Poverty and living standards
• Employment patterns
• Barriers to work
• The impact of welfare to work
programmes
A means-tested allowance paid by the Inland Revenue (IR) to parents of child (or young person in certain circumstances) and to other people responsible for a child (or young person in certain circumstances). Most families receive some CTC, whether in or out of work. Your entitlement depends upon your income and circumstances. CTC is paid on top of Child Benefit.
