Comments on: Don’t cut our benefits – it’s unfair and ineffective – say single parents

By: Christopher Wirkkala

Christopher Wirkkala — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 10:17:29 +0000

To All Parents,

Please take my family needs survey ( http://www.CommunityOfDoctors.com/familyneedssurvey ).

I’m researching single family service needs for a class project.

Feel free to contact me via e-mail if you have additional questions (cwirkkala@hotmail.com).

Thank you!

By: Kate Bell

Kate Bell — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 10:47:22 +0000

Glad the post has sparked some debate…. and really interested to hear about people’s experiences on the ground. With regards to childcare, and who has the final say, we’ve yet to see much case law on how this will work in practice. For any single parents wanting advice please do call Gingerbread’s free and confidential helpline – 0800 018 5026. You can also download more information on the changes at http://www.gingerbread.org.uk.

By: Kate Handson

Kate Handson — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 09:46:13 +0000

Could somebody, preferably an advisor from Gingerbread please answer this quesiton:

If the Decision Maker at DWP has the overall say regarding “Appropriate and Suitable Childcare” then what about the 1989 Children Act and the Welfare Checklist if “The Child” does not want to go where DWP say they must or parent/career receives a benefit sanction?

I would be very interested if somebody could reply to this as I feel this might be justifiable in case law.

Thank you.

By: Julia Foster

Julia Foster — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 09:45:35 +0000

Would anyone question a womans decision to be a stay-at-home-Mom if she was supported by a partner?
Our current government seem to think that copying the US model of welfare for lone parents is the way forward – it is punitive system that will will store up a whole load of problems for our children in the future.

By: Helen Butt

Helen Butt — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 10:44:44 +0000

I do work full time and financially I am better off. BUT I don’t have enough time for my little girl – maybe it’s not so bad at the moment because she’s still a toddler but I am concerned about not being around enough to parent her properly when she goes to school rather than nursery – especially as the only way I can really have time with her is to live in the inner city – and I don’ think she’s going to get all she needs from her education!

By: gillian lofts

gillian lofts — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:10:29 +0000

Our local jobcentre advisors push you to go for jobs that are blatantly unsuitable or too far to get to. Keep being told that once the changes are implemented (October in my case) I will not have ANY choice and will be expected to take whatever job is offered – regardless of suitability or hours or distance. If i refuse, i’ll lose benefit. Its scary
They seem to think after childcare is the answer to everything and it isn’t. Our local centre collects children from primary schools, but won’t collect 11 year olds from senior schools – even though the two are opposite each other.
Am really worried and its adding to health problems to be continually pressurised in this way.

By: Christopher Wirkkala

Christopher Wirkkala — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:04:38 +0000

Hi Ms. Bell,

I’m in the US and looking to learn more about the problems UK single parents are having with family management and child-rearing issues. I have a company I have started to provide for these families and it seems the UK has similar needs.

Any insight/input would help me. Please e-mail me at your leisure. Thank you very much.

sincerely,
Chris Wirkkala (in Seattle)
cwirkkala@hotmail.com

By: TakeCare

TakeCare — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 13:03:29 +0000

If we accept that the situation is worse now than it was November 2008, it makes even more sense to listen to the suggestions of the Social Security Advisory Committee. They published a report which covered the period Aug 2007 to July 2008.

Introducing the report, the Committee Chairman, Sir Richard Tilt, pointed to the Committee�s commentary on the Government�s ongoing welfare reform programme, its achievements, and the challenges posed by the economic downturn. Expressing the Committee�s concern about the impact of the adverse conditions upon both the Department�s customers and the agencies delivering benefits and services, HE SUGGESTED THAT IT MIGHT NOW BE APPROPIATE TO REIN BACK THE PACE OF THE WELFARE REFORM PROGRAMME.

http://www.ssac.org.uk/pdf/reports/21streport.pdf

By: Lisa Spencer

Lisa Spencer — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 13:02:27 +0000

Raising a family and working requires flexibilty. Top-down government solutions are anyhting but – the two are not compatible. More childcare that is affordable and benefits that aren’t cut in a way that means you are better off not working would help