$176.90 extra every two weeks and payments until kids turn 14: The huge win for single moms and dads in the budget
- Substantial budget increases for single parents
- An additional $176.90 every two weeks up to 57,000
- Parents will now continue to be paid until children turn 14
Single parents are now entitled to $922.10 every two weeks until their child turns 14 — instead of being cut off at eight.
The new measure, which will cost $1.9 billion, also ensures that parents no longer have to switch to JobSeeker when their youngest child turns eight.
The updated plan will enter into force on September 20 of this year, subject to parliamentary approval.
Under the new policy, single parents currently on JobSeeker will receive an additional $176.90 every two weeks.
There are 57,000 single parents – 90 percent of whom are women – who will benefit from single parent support.
The decision has been widely tipped in recent weeks and has been described as an opportunity for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to make amends for a government move by Gillard that pushed single parents off payment when their child turned eight.
The Prime Minister has admitted that ‘the single parent payment is an area where we have made a mistake’ in previous governments.
Single parents are now entitled to financial support through the Parental Benefit (Single) until their child is 14 years old (file photo)
Mr Albanese said: ‘Many single parents – mostly women – struggle to balance caring responsibilities and work.
“Those difficulties don’t stop when their child turns eight.”
“By the age of 14, children are usually used to secondary school and need less parental supervision, and single parents are in a much stronger position to take on gainful employment,” Mr Albanese said.
Payment for single parents is now stopped at 14 instead of eight (above is Anthony Albanese with his mother, who raised him alone
Historically, the single parent’s benefit was for single people with children up to age 16.
But former Prime Minister John Howard, later supported by Julia Gillard, lowered the age to eight in a bid to get parents back to work.
Two advisory bodies have urged the government to extend the fee and eligibility criteria.
It is clear that reciprocal obligation requirements will still remain in place to encourage parents to return to work.