The one-parent family payment (OFP) is a payment for both men and women aged under 66 years who are bringing up a child or children without the support of a partner.
To qualify for the one-parent family payment a person must meet the conditions of the scheme as set down in legislation. These conditions include the requirement that the applicant has main care and charge of at least one child who is residing with them.
When the Deciding Officer determines who has main care and charge of the child(ren) the decision is based on the actual circumstances of the case as well as any Court Order that may be in place. In cases where there is an actual 50-50 split of equal and shared parental responsibilities between both parents, it is deemed that neither parent has main charge of the child(ren), and as such, neither parent would have an entitlement to the one-parent family payment, however, they may be eligible for an alternative income support payment from the Department.
The eligibility rules for the one-parent family payment do not discriminate between genders. The payment is available to both men and women in the same manner once they meet the conditions of the scheme. The majority of one-parent family payment recipients are women as in most cases they have main care and charge of the child(ren).
In circumstances where one parent qualifies and is in receipt of the one-parent family payment, the other parent can apply for an alternative income support payment from the Department.
