ippr warns against forcing lone parents into work
Attempts to force single parents into work by increasing the difficulty of obtaining benefits would be counterproductive, according to a new report from the ippr.
Official figures released in August show 783,000 lone parents were claiming out of work benefits.
In a new report, entitled ‘Sanctions and Sweeteners’ the Institute for Policy Research think-tank concludes that children and society as a whole will only benefit if lone parents are offered flexible jobs and affordable, high quality childcare.
On the flip side, it warns that increasing the conditions on benefits, without offering other help, whilst it might push people into work, will put children at risk and increase hardship and poverty.
Drawing on comparisons with America, it argues that such an approach would “lock them into dead-end jobs and entrenched poverty”.
Such an approach would not have such risks in other European counties it notes because of a “better childcare infrastructure and higher benefits”.
Work, benefits and childcare are likely to be a key battleground in the upcoming general election. Both parties are determined to portray themselves as a friend of the family – whilst at the same time being tough on those who can work but chose not to.
Explaining their conclusions, senior research fellow at the ippr, Kate Stanley, said: “Reducing the number of workless households could help lift over half a million children out of poverty. Paid work can also have positive impacts for lone parents in terms of self-esteem, confidence and well-being, which can bring benefits for their children.
“But we have to be very careful when changing policy because lone parent employment rates have increased more than rates for other disadvantaged groups without the need for work conditions. The biggest challenge for welfare reform, where least progress has been made to date, is still the employment of disabled people.”
The report also warns that Government’s plans to cut the housing benefit of those committing anti-social behaviour could be counterproductive, as it would fail to “address the root cause of problem behaviour”.
