Federation backs minister on one-family payment

THE NATIONAL Federation of Services for Unmarried Parents has backed the Minister for Social Welfare’s controversial statement that the current one-family payment is not working.

Treoir CEO Margaret Dromey has said that all the evidence shows that “lone parents are more likely than other families to experience poverty, have no incentive to take up full-time employment and, indeed, to form relationships”.

“Even where good relationships exist, penalties are incurred as a result of cohabiting. A policy debate on the issue needs to take place. A review of the social welfare system for lone parents is essential and Treoir would welcome engaging in the discussion. Treoir has been calling for many years for the removal of the ban on cohabitation, in the interest of children,” she said.

“There is, undoubtedly, a need for a policy change and change should be initiated only when the recommendations of the Department of Social and Family Affairs review of income supports for lone parent families, published a few years ago, are analysed; when the experience of other countries is examined; and when all the relevant authorities and agencies have been consulted.”

Treoir welcomed the minister’s comment that change should not be introduced until parents have a chance to upskill, train or avail of further education and should only apply when children have reached the age of 13.

“It is important to reassure lone parents who are already concerned about the reduction in their social welfare payment that the minister has stated that nothing will happen in the immediate future to further reduce the payment of lone parents,” Ms. Dromey said.

Last week, Minister Hanafin signalled the possibility of an additional social welfare cut by saying the lone-parents allowance should be phased out when children reach the age of 13.