MSE News: Single mothers 'worst hit by cuts'

Former_MSE_Helen

This is the discussion thread for the following MSE News Story:

"Single mothers will be hit the hardest by the Government's programme of benefit cuts and tax rises states new research ..."

Read the full story:
Single mothers 'worst hit by cuts'

nodiscount

Single mums were relatively better off which is why a cut looks as though its targetting them. These cuts are just redressing the balance that's all.

lazer

They are the worst hit, because they get the most in the first place so can afford to lose more.

It is also the case that young women choose to become single parents and live on benefits, hopefully these cuts will make it a less appealing prospect to be a young single mother living only on benefits, while still ensuring that they get enough to live and look after their children.

scootw1

lazer wrote: »

They are the worst hit, because they get the most in the first place so can afford to lose more.

It is also the case that young women choose to become single parents and live on benefits, hopefully these cuts will make it a less appealing prospect to be a young single mother living only on benefits, while still ensuring that they get enough to live and look after their children.

Don't forget that not all single mothers are that way because the father deserted them. Sometimes the father dies so leaving the mother single (and vice versa)

lilykim

I was a single mother once, technically still am although my children are now adults. I looked after my children and made sure they had what they needed and went on school trips etc just like other children. But in the course of my work, I see a lot of single mothers on benefits, many of them have lovely nails, up to date hairstyles, fake tans, up to date mobile phones, obviously very expensive buggies/pushchairs. I would never have been able to do things like that. I dont want to lump all single parents together, but it seems a person like me who works full time, just above the threshold to get help with anything, has to work and save hard if I want anything special. My pay does not increase, I have to cope with the cost of living forever rising.

Sixer

The IFS might have collated more meaningful figures had they said "single mothers who do not receive child maintenance from the non-resident parent will be hit the hardest".

DX2

I think I'm missing something...again!

It found that by 2015 the average single mother will have lost the equivalent of more than one month's income a year due to changes including reductions on housing benefit, the restriction of maternity grants to the first child, a three-year freeze on child benefit and a cut in the childcare element of the working tax credit.

The above is happening to everyone, not just us single parents.

"Had the Treasury been doing this research in the first place, single mothers might now not be facing a situation where they can't afford childcare and so can't work, and where some of the poorest women in our society are right now getting poorer."

Christ we get 70% of childcare costs paid via tax credits.

gadgetmind

I have two young female relatives (by marriage rather than blood) who did zero at school, got pregnant as soon as possible, scrounged all the benefits they could (their one area of expertise) and then got pregnant again once the first child was school age and they risked having to get a job. Rinse and repeat.

Sorry, we need to remove this life style option ASAP as the country simply can't afford it.

lazer

scootw1 wrote: »

Don't forget that not all single mothers are that way because the father deserted them. Sometimes the father dies so leaving the mother single (and vice versa)

I am aware of this, its also the case that a number of single parents do actually work and support their children. These are not the single parents I was referring too, I was referring to those that actively choose to be young single mothers on benefits, for whatever reason, longing for a nice council house to get out of home, wanted more money, their friends were doing it or whatever.
Those who have become single parents but were in a stable relationship whenever the child was concieved and those who are able to support their children are not those I was talking about, as then do not actively choose the benefits lifestyle.

I do recognise that all single parents are being hit by the cuts, nut so is everyone else, and personally if i had to choose who should take the biggest hit between a single mother and a young couple with a child I would choose the single mother. A single mother often receives child maintenance which is not counted for benefit purposes, whereas all of a couples income is counted.

DX2

lazer wrote: »

A single mother often receives child maintenance which is not counted for benefit purposes, whereas all of a couples income is counted.

Just had to pick this up.....

Currently more than three million children live in separated families and around 50% do not receive child maintenance

Maria Miller 23 Mar 2011

lazer

DX2 wrote: »

Just had to pick this up.....

Currently more than three million children live in separated families and around 50% do not receive child maintenance

Maria Miller 23 Mar 2011

Which mean there is another 50% that do receive child maintenance and benefits on top, why?