Changes to the benefits system

[Canopus]

Are there any HE single parents here currently on income support? If so, then are you aware of the changes in the benefits system that take place in October 2008 that could force you to get a job and make your kids attend school?

 

I have been discussing the matter with a number of very concerned people from the HE community. The changes to the benefits system were done without consultation of HE parents and are quite draconian.

 

http://www.freedomforchildrentogrow.org/lone.htm

[justamum]

oh a 'nice' piece of blackmail!

[ScienceGeek]

That really is ridiculous. I can understand the aims, but they just don't think about the implications across the board.

[Deedee]

Thats just ludicrous..

I have a meeting with our MP at the Carers centre next week I'll be bringing this to his attention.

[Canopus]

There are a number of pilot areas where the government tells Job Centre staff to be stingy with the income support and do everything in their power to make people to take job seekers allowance instead. The result of this is that parents who live in the pilot areas find it more difficult to get income support compared to those who don't.

 

There are a number of instances in which parents can continue with income support after October 2008 such as if they are a full time carer. However, the definition of what constitutes a full time carer isn't set in stone yet. This provides time for the HE community to lobby the government into officially accepting that a HE parent is legally a full time carer.

 

Another point to make is that all kids are HE by default unless a parent takes the action of enrolling them at a school. The government cannot forcibly enrol a kid at school unless there is solid evidence that the parents are failing to provide a sufficiently good education at home. Financial matters do not officially determine the right of a parent to HE their kids. Therefore, terminating a parent's benefits in the aim of forcing them to take a job, then forcibly enrolling a kid at a school is illegal and verges on incarceration.

[Canopus]

A bit of news - and not very good news.

 

A HE single parent of a 13 year old with AS contacted their MP to voice their concern about the abolition of income support. The MP replied that although the changes are draconian, he thinks they will almost certainly go ahead and by this time next year most HE organisations will have accepted defeat. He stated that technically, home educating parents giving up their job and using income support are abusing the benefits system. Income support will continue to be available for full time carers, but they will have to provide proof that suitable care facilities don't exist within travelling distance. Most HE kids will fail this test as school is deemed a suitable care facility. Many of the explanations parents will give for school being unsuitable such as bullying, unhappiness, failure to cater for SEN, or problems with teaching style and the curriculum will not be convincing reasons for obtaining income support. HE organisations have explained to the government that the cost of teaching a kid in a state school is higher than paying income support, so there is no economic reasons for forcing HE kids to attend school and parents into paid employment. However, the decision is political and not economic. The MP even explained that the whole process of moving single parents off income support and into employment is likely to cost the taxpayer more than simply leaving them on income support. Some HE parents will resort to every trick in the book to avoid having to take a job and send their kid to school. There is a loophole in the system where parents of kids who play truant or are expelled can remain on income support. This will probably be exploited by some kids forced to attend school and could turn out to be quite malicious.

 

There is still time to contact your MP about this as the issue will be debated in July.

 

http://www.freedomforchildrentogrow.org/loneparents.htm