A think-tank report said that encouraging lone parents to work by increasing conditions on benefits could lead to improved outcomes for children and the economy - but only if jobs were flexible and affordable, and high-quality childcare were available. Without increased support for lone-parent families, increasing conditions on benefits would put children at risk and increase hardship and poverty.
Source: Kate Stanley and Liane Asta Lohde with Stuart White, Sanctions and Sweeteners: Rights and responsibilities in the benefits system, Institute for Public Policy Research, available from Central Books (0845 458 9911)
Links: Summary
Date: 2004-Dec
A report described the wide-ranging problems faced by lone parents in accessing financial services. Lone parents had higher levels of financial exclusion than couples with children, and were more likely to suffer from debt and low savings.
Source: Personal Finance and One-Parent Families: The Facts, One Parent Families (020 7428 5400)
Links: Summary | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Dec
A report examined the effects of extending (from November 2001) eligibility to participate in the New Deal for Lone Parents to all lone parents not working or working fewer than 16 hours per week (previously the programme had been available only to those lone parents claiming income support). It was found that newly eligible NDLP participants did not differ greatly from those claiming income support. Overall, the NDLP was well received, with personal advisers particularly appreciated.
Source: James Holland, Evaluation of the Extension to NDLP Eligibility, W209, Department for Work and Pensions (0114 209 8274)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
Date: 2004-Oct
From 25 October 2004, lone parents moving into work in six 'Work Works' pilot areas were eligible for additional financial support through an 'In Work Emergency Fund'. The fund covered emergency expenses incurred during the first 60 days of employment.
Source: Public Affairs Briefing, PAB-10-04, 4 October 2004, Jobcentre Plus (020 7273 6175)
Links: No link
Date: 2004-Oct
A report examined the phenomenon of lone parents who made repeated claims for out-of-work benefits accompanied by intervening periods in work ( cycling ).
Source: Martin Evans, Susan Harkness and Ramon Arigoni Ortiz, Lone Parents Cycling between Work and Benefits, Research Report 217, Department for Work and Pensions (0113 399 4040)
Links: Report (pdf links) | Summary (pdf) | DWP press release | CPAG press release
Date: 2004-Sep
An article explored the characteristics of live births where no father was present on the birth certificate. As a proportion of all births, sole registrations had remained fairly constant over the previous two decades, although since 1998 there was some evidence of a fall in the proportion. Those who ever experienced a sole registration were around four years younger when they began their childbearing. These women also had larger families and were more likely to come from a lower social class background.
Source: Steve Smallwood, 'Characteristics of sole registered births and the mothers who register them', Population Trends 117, Autumn 2004, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Article (pdf) | ONS press release (pdf)
Date: 2004-Sep
A report explored the relationship between the health of lone parents (and their children) and their decisions about work. Part one of the report looked specifically at lone parents on income support or in work. Part two focused on lone parents on sickness and disability benefits, and included a small sample of lone parents who moved from income support onto incapacity benefit when their youngest child turned 16.
Source: Jo Casebourne and Liz Britton, Lone Parents, Health and Work, Research Report 214, Department for Work and Pensions (0113 399 4040)
Links: Report (pdf links) | Summary (pdf) | DWP press release
Date: 2004-Aug
An article examined lone parenthood in the context of the experience of justiciable problems (problems for which there was a potential legal remedy), drawing upon a large-scale survey. Lone parents were significantly more likely than others to have experienced a justiciable problem; to seek advice for their problems, particularly from solicitors; and to receive legal-aid funding.
Source: Alexy Buck, Pascoe Pleasence, Nigel Balmer, Aoife O'Grady and Hazel Genn, 'Lone parents and civil law: their experience of problems and their advice-seeking behaviour', Social Policy and Administration, Volume 38 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2004-Jun
A report said that lone parents were not getting the advice they needed because advice provision was 'fragmented, underfunded and patchy'.
Source: Richard Moorhead, Mark Sefton and Gillian Douglas, The Advice Needs of Lone Parents, One Parent Families (020 7428 5400)
Links: OPF press release | Cardiff University press release
Date: 2004-Apr
A study investigated to what extent different pathways through lone parenthood might be associated with different outcomes for the children of lone-parent families.
Source: Alan Marsh and Sandra Vegeris, The British Lone Parent Cohort and their Children 1991 to 2001, Research Report 209, Department for Work and Pensions (0113 399 4040)
Links: Report (pdf links)
Date: 2004-Apr
A research report said that the overall evidence regarding work-focused interviews for lone parents was positive. The majority of lone parents, regardless of their circumstances or proximity to the labour market, gained something positive from the interviews. Most lone parents found the advice they received at their interview, helpful and felt they were treated as an individual.
Source: Andrew Thomas and Rita Griffiths, Integrated Findings from the Evaluation of the First 18 Months of Lone Parent Work Focused Interviews, W184, Department for Work and Pensions (0114 209 8274)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf) | DWP press release | Statistical report (pdf)
Date: 2004-Mar
A study examined the largest group of participants on the Work-Based Learning for Adults programme - lone parents in receipt of income support. The report discussed their characteristics, experiences of and views on WBLA, any subsequent changes in their skills and qualifications, and the extent to which they had been in paid work since starting on the programme. (WBLA is a voluntary training programme which aims to help adults without work, and with poor employability skills, into sustained employment.)
Source: Tracy Anderson and Candice Pires, Lone Parents and Work Based Learning for Adults, W188, Department for Work and Pensions (0114 209 8274)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
Date: 2004-Mar
A report presented final findings from administrative data examining the impact of the system of mandatory work-focused interviews on lone parents claiming income support. The analysis did not find a statistically significant impact of the interviews on income support exits for new/repeat claimants.
Source: Genevieve Knight and Stephen Lissenburgh, Evaluation of Lone Parent Work Focused Interviews: Final findings from administrative data analysis, W182, Department for Work and Pensions (0114 209 8274)
Links: Report (pdf) | DWP press release
Date: 2004-Feb
A report presented the results of a year-long project in Scotland listening to the support and information needs of young lone parents.
Source: Listening and Responding to Young Lone Parents' Information and Support Needs: Report on the Calypso Project, One Parent Families Scotland (0131 556 3899) and One Plus
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2004-Feb