Menu
12/10/2006
Government announces help for lone parents
Lone parents are to receive an extra £20 on top of their benefits if they take active steps towards work, under a pilot scheme being rolled out next year.
Under the scheme, lone parents with children aged 11 and over will be eligible for a Work Related Activity Premium (WRAP) worth £20 a week if they agree to take the necessary steps to prepare themselves for entering and competing in the workplace.
The WRAP will be supported by the introduction of quarterly Work Focused Interviews (WFI) with a personal adviser where a plan of action is agreed that will help them make that step off benefits and into work.
The schemes will be introduced from April 2007 in the New Deal Plus for Lone Parents Pilot areas. These include Bradford, Sandwell and Dudley, Leicestershire, North London, South East London, South East Wales and Edinburgh, Lothian and Borders.
Speaking at the Inclusion and Child Poverty Action Group conference, Employment and Welfare Reform Minister Jim Murphy said: "Helping lone parents find employment is a vitally important part of our wider strategy to eradicating child poverty. Children of lone parents are three times more likely to live in poverty.
"Nine out of ten parents say they want to work, either now or in the future, and work-focused interviews ensure they all know about the range of opportunities available to them. The introduction of the Work Related Activity Premium pilot will enable us to test if the extra financial assistance will encourage lone parents with older children to actively take steps to make the transition back into the work place."
(KMcA/SP)
Under the scheme, lone parents with children aged 11 and over will be eligible for a Work Related Activity Premium (WRAP) worth £20 a week if they agree to take the necessary steps to prepare themselves for entering and competing in the workplace.
The WRAP will be supported by the introduction of quarterly Work Focused Interviews (WFI) with a personal adviser where a plan of action is agreed that will help them make that step off benefits and into work.
The schemes will be introduced from April 2007 in the New Deal Plus for Lone Parents Pilot areas. These include Bradford, Sandwell and Dudley, Leicestershire, North London, South East London, South East Wales and Edinburgh, Lothian and Borders.
Speaking at the Inclusion and Child Poverty Action Group conference, Employment and Welfare Reform Minister Jim Murphy said: "Helping lone parents find employment is a vitally important part of our wider strategy to eradicating child poverty. Children of lone parents are three times more likely to live in poverty.
"Nine out of ten parents say they want to work, either now or in the future, and work-focused interviews ensure they all know about the range of opportunities available to them. The introduction of the Work Related Activity Premium pilot will enable us to test if the extra financial assistance will encourage lone parents with older children to actively take steps to make the transition back into the work place."
(KMcA/SP)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
24 November 2008
More Choice To Help Lone Parents Find The Right Job
Thousands of lone parents will be given extra support to help them prepare for work under new benefit rules, which come into force today. Lone parents of children aged 12 plus will no longer be able to make a new or repeat claim for Income Support solely on the basis of being a lone parent.
More Choice To Help Lone Parents Find The Right Job
Thousands of lone parents will be given extra support to help them prepare for work under new benefit rules, which come into force today. Lone parents of children aged 12 plus will no longer be able to make a new or repeat claim for Income Support solely on the basis of being a lone parent.
11 February 2010
Boost For Lone Parent Job Seekers
Thousands of lone parents will get extra help to attain training and work experience while their children are at nursery school, the Government announced today. Those who work less than 16 hours a week will also be able to keep £50 of their wages before losing any benefits, Work Secretary Yvette Cooper said.
Boost For Lone Parent Job Seekers
Thousands of lone parents will get extra help to attain training and work experience while their children are at nursery school, the Government announced today. Those who work less than 16 hours a week will also be able to keep £50 of their wages before losing any benefits, Work Secretary Yvette Cooper said.
02 August 2004
Minister welcomes rise in lone parent employment
There are more lone parents in work than ever before, according to new figures out today. There were 971,000 thousand lone parents in work in Spring 2004, up 276,000 in the last seven years, the figures from the Office of National Statistics found. At the same time the number of lone parents claiming benefits has fallen by a fifth.
Minister welcomes rise in lone parent employment
There are more lone parents in work than ever before, according to new figures out today. There were 971,000 thousand lone parents in work in Spring 2004, up 276,000 in the last seven years, the figures from the Office of National Statistics found. At the same time the number of lone parents claiming benefits has fallen by a fifth.
17 February 2015
Plans Announced To Make Young People Work For Benefits
The Prime Minister has announced a proposal for 18 to 21-year-olds claiming benefits to do daily work experience. The proposed reform, known as Community Work Programme, would see young people not in work, education or training, required to complete daily work experience, alongside continuing to look for work in order to qualify for benefits.
Plans Announced To Make Young People Work For Benefits
The Prime Minister has announced a proposal for 18 to 21-year-olds claiming benefits to do daily work experience. The proposed reform, known as Community Work Programme, would see young people not in work, education or training, required to complete daily work experience, alongside continuing to look for work in order to qualify for benefits.
16 May 2014
Alcohol-Related ChildLine Calls On The Rise
The number of children calling ChildLine with concerns about their parents' behaviour due to alcohol and drug abuse has doubled in the past year, according to the NSPCC. The charity's 24-hour helpline received 5,323 calls in 2013, more than 100 a week, from children worried about their parents' behaviour.
Alcohol-Related ChildLine Calls On The Rise
The number of children calling ChildLine with concerns about their parents' behaviour due to alcohol and drug abuse has doubled in the past year, according to the NSPCC. The charity's 24-hour helpline received 5,323 calls in 2013, more than 100 a week, from children worried about their parents' behaviour.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:It will be cloudy again throughout the day. Mainly dry in the morning, but patchy drizzle in places, becoming more widespread and persistent in the afternoon. Freshening southwesterly winds. Maximum temperature 12 °C.Tonight:Cloudy with a spell of heavy rain pushing south through late evening and the early hours, followed by some clear spells. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
