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Parents
Lone parents
If you are bringing up a child as a lone parent there is a wide range of financial help you may be entitled to, whether you are in work, looking for work or unable to work.
Child Maintenance
Child Maintenance is regular financial support paid by the non-resident parent to the parent with care, to help with the child's everyday living costs. It is usually paid based on the income of the non-resident parent and can be arranged either through the Child Support Agency or through a private agreement. As a parent, your financial responsibility for your child does not end if your relationship with the other parent ends.
Claiming maintenance from someone living abroad
Britain has arrangements with over 100 countries and territories overseas that allow a person living in one jurisdiction to claim maintenance from an ex-partner who lives in another jurisdiction. For more information, go to the Reciprocal Enforcement of Maintenance Orders (REMO) website.
Child Maintenance Bonus
You may be entitled to Child Maintenance Bonus if you've been receiving Child Maintenance under the Child Support Agency’s old scheme (calculated before 3 March 2003) and your benefit is ending because your income has increased or you'll be working for at least 16 hours per week.
Child Maintenance Premium
The Child Maintenance Bonus is not available to people receiving Child Maintenance under the Child Support Agency’s new scheme (calculated after 3 March 2003). If you are a parent caring for your child and someone in your household receives Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, you can keep up to £10 per week of any Child Maintenance paid for your child. This is called ‘the Child Maintenance Premium'.
Jobseeker's Allowance
If you are able to look for full-time or part-time paid work you may be able to get Jobseeker's Allowance. Whether or not you qualify and how much you get depends on your circumstances. To find out if you are eligible, click on the link below.
Employment and Support Allowance
If you are not able to work due to a health condition or disability you may be able to get Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). ESA offers you personalised support and financial help, so that you can work if you are able to. If you cannot work because of an illness or disability, you will receive a support component in addition to the basic rate.
Income Support
If you aren't available for full-time work and you don't have enough money to live on, you may be able to get Income Support benefit. Whether or not you qualify and how much you get depends on your circumstances. To find out if you are eligible and to apply online, click on the link below.
In Work Credit
In Work Credit is a tax-free payment of £40 to lone parents (£60 for parents in London) who have been claiming benefits for a year or more and go back to work for at least 16 hours a week. In Work Credit is paid for a year on top of other working benefits. To find out more, speak to someone at your local Jobcentre Plus office.
Childcare costs
Jobcentre Plus can help with childcare costs as long as you place your child with a registered childcare provider and you are doing something connected with your chosen career, as agreed with Jobcentre Plus. Once you are working you may qualify for Working Tax Credit, which could enable you to claim back up to 80 per cent of your eligible childcare costs.
Job Grant
Job Grant is a one-off tax-free payment you may get when you start working for at least 16 hours a week and stop getting benefits. You may be entitled to Job Grant if you start to work for at least 16 hours a week, do not have a partner working for 16 hours or more per week and expect your work to last for at least five weeks. You must also have been claiming one of the following benefits for at least 26 weeks before starting your new job:
- Jobseeker's Allowance
- Income Support
- Employment and Support Allowance
- Incapacity Benefit
- Severe Disablement Allowance
- Plus/New Deal Allowance payments where the allowance is based on Jobseeker's Allowance, Income Support, Incapacity Benefit or Severe Disablement Allowance
- Employment Zone payments where the allowance is based on Jobseeker's Allowance
Job hunting, childcare and financial advice
Jobcentre Plus has put together a free Choices Kit for lone parents thinking about work. It includes advice on job-hunting, childcare and financial help. You can order one by calling 0800 085 5701.
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