Supporting Parents into Work

From Monday 26th October more lone parents are required to seek work.  Last year lone parents were expected to look for work once their youngest child reached 12, this year it has reduced to 10, and in due course this will be brought down to 7. 

David Kidney MP says:

”This is part of our vision for an active welfare state. It is a package of measures that is designed to support parents in their wish to work and in their wish to take the time that they need to care well for their young children.

“It’s a balancing act. There’s lots of research to tell us that families and children are better off when parents work, but we also know that caring well for young children is an important job in itself.

“Work matters because it’s good for mental and physical health, it means the children are less likely to be in poverty, it reduces stigma and boosts the self esteem of the children, makes it easier for them to fit in with their peers, and it gives children good role models.

“In practice many lone parents want to work and since 1997 the lone parent employment rate has increased by over 12  percentage points to 56%, so more than half of all lone parents are now in work. We have been actively supporting people in this process by the New Deal for Lone Parents.

“It is often difficult for lone parents to juggle work and child care so our welfare to work programme helps find part time work that fits with school hours and makes sure that jobseekers agreements consider the wellbeing of the child.”

 There is now a lot of information available through Directgov which will help to guide you through the changes and the help that can be given.

http://jobseekers.direct.gov.uk/homepage.aspx?sessionid=263653e5-f011-4c99-8c19-ea8f9cf18581&pid=1

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Moneyandworkentitlements/WorkAndFamilies/DG_181643

http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/JCP/Customers/parents_/Lone_Parents/How_we_can_help_you_find_work/index.html