An article examined the ability of lone mothers to find rational solutions to 'role strain' (conflicts between work and family), and the implications for the government's lone parent employment agenda.
Source: Eileen Spencer Dawe, 'Lone mothers in employment: seeking rational solutions to role strain': Subtitle, Journal of Social Welfare & Family Law, Volume 27, Number 3-4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2005-Dec
A report set out suggestions for achieving a 70 per cent employment rate for lone parents. It said that attaching stricter work requirements to the receipt of benefits for lone parents, particularly for those with secondary school aged children, was not a productive way forward.
Source: Meeting the Target: How can the government achieve a 70 per cent employment rate for lone parents?, One Parent Families (020 7428 5400)
Links: Report part 1 (pdf) | Report part 2 (pdf)
Date: 2005-Aug
Researchers said that the extension of work-focused interviews for lone parents (in April 2002) brought about 'no detectable change' in exit rates from income support for eligible new and repeat claimants. But lone parents with ongoing claims became more likely to exit income support - by 1 percentage point after 6 months, and 2 percentage points after 12 months.
Source: Genevieve Knight and Steve Lissenburgh, Evaluation of the Extension to Lone Parent Work Focused Interviews Eligibility: Administrative data analyses, Research Report 237, CDS (0113 399 4040) for Department for Work and Pensions
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
Date: 2005-Mar
A study examined the problems lone parents had experienced with the tax credits system, and made recommendations for change.
Source: Julia Griggs, Fiona McAllister and Robert Walker, The New Tax Credits System: Knowledge and awareness among recipients, One Parent Families (020 7428 5400)
Links: Summary (pdf)
Date: 2005-Mar
A report said that the recovery rate for tax credit overpayments was pushing lone parents into serious hardship, and threatening to undermine the credits success in tackling poverty and increasing lone-parent employment.
Source: Julia Griggs, Robert Walker and Fiona McAllister, The New Tax Credits System: Knowledge and awareness among recipients, One Parent Families (020 7428 5400)
Links: OPF press release | Citizens Advice press release | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Feb
A report presented findings from qualitative research designed to increase understanding of lone parents attitudes towards, and experiences of childcare; their decisions about childcare and work; and their views and experiences of recent and imminent policy initiatives and changes.
Source: Alice Bell, Naomi Finch, Ivana La Valle, Roy Sainsbury and Christine Skinner, A Question of Balance: Lone parents, childcare and work, Research Report 230, Department for Work and Pensions (0113 399 4040)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
Date: 2005-Feb
An article examined the experiences of lone parents who participated in schemes such as the New Deal for Lone Parents, and contrasted this with the experiences of those who did not. It said that community-based schemes might not offer the best option for all lone mothers, but could provide an effective staging post for some towards a position of job readiness.
Source: Mark Meadows and Diane Grant, 'Social and psychological exclusion', Community, Work & Family, Volume 8 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2005-Feb
A bulletin described the demographic situation and living standards of lone parents in Northern Ireland. It was based on an analysis of 148 lone-parent households containing co-resident children aged 15 or under identified in the Poverty and Social Exclusion Study (carried out in 2002-03).
Source: Fiona Scullion, Paddy Hillyard and Ethnie McLaughlin, Lone Parent Households in Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Executive (028 9052 3244)
Links: Bulletin (pdf)
Date: 2005-Feb
A think-tank pamphlet examined the impact on families of the tax and benefit system. It documented the cost to the taxpayer of lone parenthood, and the way in which existing policies penalized intact families and 'subsidized' lone parenthood. It argued that this system was unfair to intact families which were often struggling to make ends meet. By encouraging lone parenthood, it was also corroding the social fabric.
Source: Jill Kirby, The Price of Parenthood, Centre for Policy Studies (020 7222 4488)
Links: Pamphlet (pdf) | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Jan
A report brought together the available research findings (from 1999 to 2004) on the financial circumstances of lone-parent families. Lone parents suffered more from debt than other family types, with household bills often causing the biggest problems: but it was the circumstances around lone parenthood that caused the high risk of debt, rather than the fact of being a lone parent in itself.
Source: Personal Finance and One Parent Families: The facts, One Parent Families (020 7428 5400)
Links: OPF press release | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Jan