Useful information on the range of benefits and financial help available to single and lone parents including child maintenance and working benefits.Discuss benefits and financial help for single parents on our forums, right now! Or, post a comment below.The cost of bringing up a child can seem quite daunting especially if you are on your own. However, in addition to the baby benefits available to all new parents, there is a support system in place that is specifically designed to provide financial help for single or lone parents.
Income supportIncome support is available to those over the age of 16 who are unable to work full time and as a consequence have insufficient funds to live on. If you are a lone parent, work less than 16 hours a week (an average) and have savings under £16,000 you may be eligible to receive this benefit.
The amount you receive is dependent on your individual circumstances and will be calculated based on factors such as your age, your average earnings and the number of dependent children you have. However, regardless of the amount you are granted, if you are eligible for income support you will also receive free prescriptions and dental care, housing and council tax benefits as well as free school meals for your children.
Child MaintenanceUnder UK law, both parents are equally responsible for providing financial support for their child regardless of whether they actively contribute to the child's upbringing. This means that if you are raising your child alone, you are entitled to claim child maintenance payments from the non-residential parent. The amount that you will receive is means-tested and will be based on a percentage of his or her income.
The child support agency (CSA) can help to calculate and collect child maintenance support from non-residential parents who live in the UK or work abroad for a UK based employer. The CSA will become involved in this process when either parent asks for assistance or when the parent with care claims income support.
There is also help available for lone parents whose ex-partner has moved abroad as Britain has an arrangement with over 100 countries that allows a parent living in one country to claim maintenance from an ex-partner who lives in another
For more information on child maintenance visit
www.csa.gov.uk.
Child Maintenance PremiumYou are likely to be eligible for the child maintenance premium if you have sole care of your child and are in receipt of Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance. This benefit allows you to keep up to £10 per week of any maintenance payments you receive for your children.
Lone Parent Benefits Run-onIf the following statements apply to you, you may be eligible for Lone Parents Benefit Run-on.
- You have been receiving Income Support, Minimum Income Guarantee or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance continually for at least 26 weeks.
- You have you been a lone parent for those 26 weeks.
- You have increased your working hours so that you are now working at least 16 hours a week or you are now working full-time in a job that you expect to last for at least 5 weeks.
If you are going back to work, lone parents benefit run-on provides you with financial help to tide you over until you are paid from your new job.
It is important to be aware that if you are going back to work or increasing your hours at an existing job, you must inform the department from which you receive benefits at once.
Visit the official government website (www.direct.gov.uk) for further information on the benefits available for lone parents.
Author : Lucy MacLauchlan
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You will get child benefit £17.00 per week
Tax Credits (that's if work less that 16 hrs a week - highly unlikely when you have a mortgage to pay)
I am entitled to £12.00 a week child care??? my child care costs will be £770.00 a month so that just a big joke.
CSA - Ladies go get what you are entitled to from the farther as this is about the only thing that is going to save you.
All the best to all you single mums and I am sure we will all find a way to get through this.
p.s i am fighting for us to get more help and I have heard back from the PM and my case has been put forward to the HM Revenue... fingers crossed.
I recently applied for income support and was advised to do so as a lone parent. I've waited and have been messed around by them for 3 long months; only for them to turn around and say that I am not entitled to income support as I have a partner. They said, even though we don't live together it's seen as an income coming in for myself. I explained to them that my partner is only supporting 'his' child and I cannot expect him to support my other two and that I don't work and don't have an income coming in. I also explained that he supports the child by providing clothes etc, not by giving money to me.
I intend to appeal against this decision but I need advice.
this bit is to samhamer, can your partner not claim through the inland revenue for your maternity pay, usually thats where employers can claim through, you can still get working tax credits maybe & you will will get child benefit & child tax credits. its not as much money as you get while working but it gets you through, i would look into things more even phone to see what help yous can get when your on maternity pay there is always a few options, phone your local job centre & ask them about it, they are really good for infromation.
this is to Tami30, if you dont want to move in with your partner the now then thats fine, am the same situation as you but i have a 8month baby the now, i get my housing & council tax paid for me. also i get my child benefit & child tax & working tax which you will be entitled to everyone who has a baby is entitled to it, if your working more than 16 hours you will get working tax but if not you can be entitled to income support & the childs father will help with you so dont worry , you will get help with things. so go to your local council & ask for about gettin ghousing & tax benefit the now get it done asap cause its a pain at times, you need to send like what income you get every month & so so & go to your local job centre to see about gettin you r child tax forms & everything they are good with helping you with things, hope this helps.