Single parents with child over 13 years to lose state support in ‘cynical ploy’

SINGLE parents are set to lose vital state support as part of a “cynical” ploy by Government to cut the financial aid for any family whose youngest child is older than 13.

Details of the new Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill announced yesterday evening show that families of teenage children are facing even more hardship from April of next year.

Under the existing social welfare system, every lone parent family with a child under the age of 18 and a weekly household income of less than €425 is eligible to receive a monthly financial payment from the state.