John Brady
Question:894. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to outline the supports in place to assist lone parents returning to education and returning to work. [30841/18]
View answerTuesday, 10 July 2018
Questions (894)
Written answers
My Department, in conjunction with the Department of Education and Skills, offers a wide range of financial supports to lone parents that allow them to participate in a variety of educational and employment programmes.
For example, lone parents in receipt of One-Parent Family Payment (OFP) or Jobseekers Transitional payment (JST) who wish to participate in second or third-level education can opt to retain their current payment and also avail of the SUSI maintenance grant from the Department of Education and Skills. This grant is not assessed as means by my Department. Alternatively, they can opt to receive Back To Education Allowance (BTEA), which is paid at the same rate as their former payment. There are some differences between the options with regards to secondary benefits, so the individual can select the option that best suits their needs and circumstances.
Working Family Payment (WFP) is a tax-free weekly payment available to employees with children. It gives extra financial support to people on low pay. You must be an employee working 19 hours per week or more to qualify.
The Back to Work Family Dividend (BTWFD) scheme aims to help families to move from social welfare into employment. It gives financial support to people with qualified children who are in, or take up, employment or self-employment and as a result stop claiming a jobseeker's payment or a one-parent family payment. Qualifying applicants receive a weekly payment for up to 2 years, equivalent to the increase for a qualified child that was being paid on their jobseeker or one-parent family payment (up to a maximum of 4 children) for the first year in employment. Half that amount is paid weekly for the second year.
My Department’s employment services also currently provide a case-managed approach to assist lone parents to make a personal plan to assist them to return to work or education. For lone parents on JST, the engagement is a pro-active tailored support that can be available for up to seven years while JST is in payment.