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'In work, better off': A Response to the Green Paper from One Parent Families|Gingerbread
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October 2007
Download the full response below
Executive summary - One Parent Families|Gingerbread recognises the significant financial and social benefits that paid work can bring for parents and children. Nine out of ten lone parents want to work when the time is right, and we want them to have the support to do so.
- However, lone parents' situations are diverse and complex, and their decisions about how best to put their children first must be respected. Government has recognised the importance of choice for other groups including parents in couples, and carers.
- We believe that in addition to denying lone parents this choice, the proposal to ask lone parents to claim Jobseeker's Allowance when their youngest children reach 12 from 2008, and seven from 2010 not only lacks an evidence base but would carry significant risks for Government, parents and children.
- Evidence about the impact of introducing work search conditions for lone parents, both internationally and from the UK, does not suggest that an increase in conditionality will be an effective means of increasing the lone parent employment rate.
- However, we know that more flexible, tailored employment support - coupled with greater attention to job sustainability, could significantly increase opportunities for lone parents.
- This will need to be accompanied with a range of additional support, including,
- Additional investment and training for front line staff in Jobcentre Plus.
- Sustainable job entry targets for all advisers, whether in the public, private or voluntary sectors.
- Joined up employment and skills provision
- Dramatic increases in the provision of suitable services for older children, and of childcare during school holidays.
- An extension of the right to request flexible working to all parents, and a pledge that employers signed up to the Local Employment Partnerships will commit to delivering jobs and training at family friendly hours.
- A re-examination of the eligibility criteria for free school meals.
- An increase in the income disregards within means tested benefits for those working fewer than 16 hours a week.
- The Jobseeker's Allowance regime is insufficiently flexible to cater for lone parents' diverse needs. The regime will have to be fundamentally changed, a two tier system of regulations will have to be introduced, or lone parents and their children will face a high risk of sanctions and substantial disadvantage.
- Putting in place the support outlined above could lead to a substantial increase in the lone parent employment rate. But if the Government are determined to go down the route of increasing activity, we believe that they must take an approach based on incentives and tailored support, rather than simply utilising more frequent contact and sanctions.
- Tackling child poverty amongst one parent families will be vital if the Government's 2010 target to halve child poverty is to be met. Increasing the employment rate of lone parents must be part of the strategy to achieve this goal, alongside greater financial investment in children. But paid work is not always the right choice for families, and the proposals in the Green Paper risk jeopardising the considerable progress made so far.
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