Changes to lone parents allowance budget 2011

carfiosaoorl

Hi all, I have a question about the changes to lone parents allowance. I heard on news that it can only be claimed until youngest child is 7. Some people are saying that this only applies to new claims, is this true? Also what happens when child turns 7. Do families go on to basic single persons jsa? tia.

YumDeiseMum

The upper age limit of the youngest child for new claimants
of the One-Parent Family Payment will be reduced to 7
years on a phased basis. It will be
reduced to 12 years with effect
from 2012

From the factsheet, welfare.ie states that by 2014 the upper age will be 7

Atlantis50

carfiosaoorl wrote: »

Hi all, I have a question about the changes to lone parents allowance. I heard on news that it can only be claimed until youngest child is 7. Some people are saying that this only applies to new claims, is this true? Also what happens when child turns 7. Do families go on to basic single persons jsa? tia.

From the Irish Examiner: http://budget.irishexaminer.com/analysis/one-parent-and-large-families-the-biggest-losers-176237.html

Major changes to the one-parent family payment are being introduced so that, in 2012, a new claimant’s youngest child must not be older than 12 years old. That limit is to be further reduced to 10 years old in 2013 and just 7 years old in 2014.

The age limit was already reduced from 18 to 14 for new claimants earlier this year. Existing claimants are subject to the 14-years-old age limit only on a phased basis between 2012 and 2016.

I take this to mean that the current phasing in for existing claimants will remain as it is:
2011 and 2012 The age limit will remain 18
2013 The age limit will be 17
2014 The age limit will be 16
2015 The age limit will be 15
2016 The age limit will be 14

Also what happens when child turns 7. Do families go on to basic single persons jsa?

The single parent would claim JA with an increased rate for a qualified child. Currently that would be 188 (basic rate for single person) + 29.80 (rate for a qualified child). http://www.welfare.ie/en/schemes/jobseekersupports/jobseekersallowance/Pages/ja.aspx

Lugh Ildanach

I wouldn't bank on the current phasing in arrangement staying in place, we're likely to see new phased in arrangments. We'll have to wait and see the detail.

LegacyUser

I have a ten year old and claiming opf allowance so does this mean I will still receive it until he is 14 ? I thought it would stop for me after next year from what's been announced in the budget ,grateful for any replies