Over 16,000 lone parents nationally are set to benefit from new changes to the Child Maintenance Payment.
This change means that lone parents no longer have to prove that they have made efforts to seek child maintenance from their child’s other parent, when applying for the One Parent Family payment or Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment.
Announcing the changes, Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys TD said: “This requirement often involved lone parents having to go to Court to seek a maintenance order, so this change removes a potential additional stress for them, as well as helping to reduce the burden on our courts system.”
In addition, over 16,000 lone parents will benefit from changes which will result in Child Maintenance payments being disregarded in the means test for social welfare payments.
Many lone parents on reduced rates of payment will see their payment increase and others will qualify for a payment. It is estimated that this measure will cost approximately €10 million per year.
The liable relative provisions have not been applied to new claims for One-Parent Family Payment. As a result, the Department no longer seeks to recoup a portion of claim costs from the non-resident parent.
It is important to note that removing these provisions does not replace or supersede the primary responsibility of parents to maintain their children.
These two changes will be implemented following amendments to legislation, which is now at an advanced stage following approval by Government.
“I am delighted that I have recently received Government approval to draft the changes to primary legislation required in relation to the liable relatives’ provisions and removing child maintenance payments from assessment in the means test,” Minister Humphreys said.
“I have sent the draft Heads of Bill to the Joint Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands for pre-legislative scrutiny. I hope to publish the Bill as early as possible in the Autumn.
“These are very significant reforms of the social welfare system which will be of great benefit to lone parents.”
