Cash-strapped single parents risk losing social benefits

Single parents start to lose out on social benefits once they earn a mere Lm20 a week, a seminar organised by the Employment and Training Corporation heard yesterday.

A study carried out among single mothers showed that social benefits were the main and only secure mode of income for most people and women, in particular, were afraid to risk losing such benefits. Working part time is, therefore, rarely a means of improving their financial position because social benefits would not cover their needs and so they risk falling below the poverty line.

The mean weekly social benefits, including children's allowance, for unmarried parents amounts to Lm42.20. Separated parents receive a mean of Lm47.20 and widowed parents get Lm58.90. Almost a third of the single parents receive only children's allowance.

Mariella Vella, from the ETC's monitoring and evaluation unit, said affordable childcare facilities, a flexible employer and accessible employment and training services were among the measures that could be taken to help single mothers.

She also underlined the importance of clear advice on benefits and the rapid re-issue of benefits once a job is lost, as well as stronger support services and the creation of a one-stop advisory and support service. Statistics show that single parent households account for 2.6 per cent of the total and almost half of these parents are aged under 20.

ETC chief executive Sue Vella said only 29 per cent of single parents were in employment, and just 9.5 per cent have post-secondary education. A staggering 43.8 per cent of single parents are at risk of poverty.

The number of births out of wedlock has shot up in recent years, with 19.14 per cent in 2004 compared with 1.71 per cent in 1990. Employment Minister Louis Galea said that in order to gain employment single parents required proper training and education at different levels.

He said research shows that 82 per cent of single mothers in Europe were in employment, but in Malta the rate stood at 29 per cent.

Family and Social Solidarity Minister Dolores Cristina said the national action plan on poverty and social exclusion had identified single parents, particularly women, as one of the social groups at risk of poverty. The second action plan is being drawn up.

Ms Cristina said that last year more than 1,800 people were granted single parent benefits, but she added that single parents could be entitled to other benefits, including maternity benefit, children's allowance and access to free medicines.