A number of lone-parents groups have yet again voiced their disapproval at the coalition for introducing new welfare reforms that will see single parents having their child benefits harshly cut.
The groups claim that as many as 11,000 working families will unfairly lose their entitlements starting next month and believe that the finger of blame firmly points at the government for not searching for an alternative solution. The criticism comes as the government is set to introduce new changes that will see single parents in receipt of social welfare being forced to seek employment or training as soon as their youngest child becomes seven years old. However the Government claim that the new reforms are needed because there are too many single-parent families currently relying on welfare benefits. The government say that the imposed reforms will enable single parents to break free from welfare dependency, although the coalition say that they are fully aware that at least 4,000 of the 30,000 single parents currently in part-time work will suffer a significant income loss.
But campaign groups SPARK and ONE FAMILY disagree with the government and believe that nearly three times that figure will unfairly end up losing out.
The groups say, those already in part-time employment will unfortunately lose out the most by being deducted amounts ranging from €10 and €140 on their weekly income.
Karen Kiernan of ONE FAMILY said: “We estimate that up to one third of lone parents affected will lose out, which is incredibly serious,” “If this is a policy about getting people into the labour market, then it’s simply counterproductive.”
However the Department of Social Protection argue that single parents will be far better off if they increased their part-time working hours to 19 a week.
The Department say such a move would be beneficial to those working part-time as it will entitle them to the family income supplement and a new back-to-work family dividend.
Meanwhile many government ministers believe that lone parents will increase their working hours of employment, which will leave them financially better off than before when they were receiving benefits.