Sanctions on single parents ‘risk

BY JUDITH DUFFY

THE impact on single parents of living with the threat of benefit sanctions is risking long-term damage to the next generation, a new report will warn. Research commissioned by the charity One Parent Families Scotland (OPFS) has found the stress caused by the regime – which imposes financial penalties if claimants fail to comply with certain conditions – is resulting in worsening health, particularly mental health, for lone parents.

It highlighted worrying examples where arranging childcare around Jobcentre appointments or work interviews was not being taken into account. The report, which will be published shortly, found the welfare system is pushing single parents into low-paid, temporary and poor-quality work rather than assisting them into training to help them out of poverty. Until recently, single parents on low incomes could claim Income Support until their youngest child was 16. But that benefit is now available only to parents with children aged five or younger, dropping under the new Universal Credit scheme next year to three-year-olds. Those with older children must claim Jobseeker’s Allowance – and therefore look for work, whatever their circumstances. Satwat Rehman, director of OPFS, said the report had been commissioned as the impact of sanctions was often highlighted by parents they worked with.

The report highlights examples of single parents who had been sanctioned – including one who said she missed an appointment after being admitted to hospital when a pregnancy scan showed her baby had died. “Despite me phoning to explain the situation, and being assured it was OK and it would be rescheduled, I had to fight to have my money reinstated and was without for three weeks,” she said. The