Single parents worry about finding work to fit childcare when new legislation comes into force

A proposed change to the Work Programme, forcing single parents on income support to find work when their youngest child becomes five years old is their number one worry.

According to Single Parent Action Network (SPAN) the proposed change to legislation is causing concern that single parents unable to find work that is flexible to childcare could see them losing their benefits.

Development director for SPAN, Simon Bates says: “Single parents experience a number of structural barriers to work, including access to affordable childcare and employment that is flexible enough for them to juggle time for being a parent.

He continues: “The government believes that work is the best route out of poverty for single parents.

“At face value this is a difficult position to argue against and SPAN does not suggest that single parents should always be dependent on the benefits system. Rather, our concern is the implication that this has for parenting, motherhood, child welfare and social inclusion.

An estimated six out of ten single parents are actually in work, but the risk of poverty is high and their children face social exclusion.

SPAN is now offering single parents a range of information to help at: www.onespace.org.uk