Posted: 14.02.2008

From 27th October 2008, any lone parent, with a youngest child of 12 years or over, who makes a new or repeat benefit claim will be required to claim Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) and not Income Support (IS). This means that lone parents with a youngest child of 12 may only be entitled to benefit if they are actively seeking work.

Lone parents with an existing IS award who have a youngest child of 12 or over, or whose youngest child reaches 12 between 27th October 2008 and 27th January 2009, will continue to receive IS until the payday before their first Work Focused Interview after 27th January 2009. They will then have to make a claim for JSA. Lone parents of a child receiving the middle or highest rate care component of Disability Living Allowance, receive Carer's Allowance or who are fostering children can continue to claim IS.

From October 2009 it is proposed that lone parents will no longer be entitled to IS once their youngest child is 10 years old and from October 2010 it drops again to 7 years old.