Forcing unemployed single parents under 23 to take part in the youth guarantee scheme or lose the social assistance helps push young mothers out of a certain sense of apathy, according to a social worker.
“I used to care for many young, unmarried single parents and there were cases where I would call at their homes at 11am to find them still in bed or watching television,” Carmen Fearne said.
Ms Fearne spent over 20 years working closely with teenage mothers and even set up what is today known as Unit Għożża, a support service and an educational programme targeting unmarried pregnant minors.
“We mustn’t let them grow lazy. Work gives you dignity so as long as they are provided with a job which matches their skills, I believe the measure is a positive step.”
Single mothers will be obliged to take part in the scheme as soon as their child turns one.
I still meet children who have the same problems as their parents did 20 years ago
“That one year is very important for mother-baby bonding.
“Had it been less, I would have disagreed with the measure,” Ms Fearne, who chairs the Children and Young Persons Advisory Board, said.
“Teen mothers would often need to drop out of school upon becoming pregnant so the training would give them a second chance at catching up with the education opportunities they missed out on.”
Ms Fearne recalled how she used to scour shops and factories, looking for jobs for the young mothers, as well as for the fathers.
However, teen mothers were often tarnished by the perception that they could not be trusted and found it hard to be accepted.
Such perceptions, Ms Fearne continued, often ruined their confidence and self-esteem.
The “unknown father” phenomenon – where a number of single mothers opt to register their babies as such to live off social benefits – was not addressed in the Budget.
However, Ms Fearne believed the issue could resolve itself on its own.
“Single mothers put down ‘unknown father’ to get social assistance, even if they are still in touch and, at times, live with the father.
“Therefore, officially, the father wouldn’t be obliged to pay child maintenance – the State would be taking care of that. The father’s pay cheque would remain untouched so they could benefit from both incomes. However, if social assistance is stopped after finding a job, you’re removing their incentive to list their child as having an unknown father.”
However, there should be more intensive education campaigns, Ms Fearne believes.
“I’m in no way advocating sexual intercourse before marriage but teens need to be aware of what precautions they should take, as well as the consequences of their actions.
“We also need to work more closely with families to break the cycle. Often enough, these girls live in families with sisters who are single mothers themselves and with their own mother who brags about being a single parent.
“I still meet children who have the same problems as their parents did 20 years ago – it’s clear something isn’t working; that we haven’t broken the cycle.
“I really hope the scheme works and, if not, that we have the courage to admit it and work out something else.”
Targeting single mothers
Marisa, a single mother with a two-year-old child
Current situation
Marisa works minimum part-time
Single mother benefit: €3,919
Children’s allowance: €1,156 (maximum rate)
Part-time work: €2,961 (equivalent to €56.95 per week)
Total in pocket: €8,036
Marisa has a part-time job, earning the bare minimum weekly rate not to lose her single mother benefit. She has the potential to earn more from part-time work but does not do so because it will not make up for the loss in benefit as seen in the table below.
Marisa works 20 hours of part-time a week
Single mother benefit: 0
Children’s allowance: €1,156 (maximum rate)
Part-time work: €5,200 (equivalent to €100 per week)
Total in pocket: €6,356
New system:
Marisa can earn as much as she wants without automatically losing her single mother benefit. This will be tapered down over three years.
First year
Single mother benefit: €2,547 (@ 65% of benefit)
Children’s allowance: €1,156
Part-time work: €5,200 (equivalent to €100 per week)
Total in pocket: €8,903
Second year
Single mother benefit: €1,763 (@ 45%)
Children’s allowance: €1,156
Work: €5,230 (adjusted with COLA of 58c per week)
Total: €8,149
Third year and after
Single mother benefit: €980 (@ 25%)
Children’s allowance: €1,156
Work: €5,290 (adjusted with COLA of €1.16)
Total: €7,426
Tapering single mother benefits ensures Marisa will always be earning more than if she were to lose the benefit completely. Staying in legitimate work can lead to better employment prospects. She will also benefit from the free childcare scheme for her two-year-old child and the in-work benefit that could go up to €1,000.