Tag Archives: single parenting payment

Single Parenting Payment youngest child age raised – here’s the facts – updated

May 10, 2023

The Albanese Labor Government today announced a much-needed relief to Australia’s single mother families- the raising of the Single Parenting Payment youngest child age cut off from eight to fourteen. Here are the facts…

Single mum and daughter. Source: Bigstock — Single mums will now be supported for longer

Anthony Albanese confirmed the long-awaited extension to the Single Parenting Payment as part of the 2023-24 Federal Budget, bringing in the change of Parenting Payment (Single) being paid to single parents when their youngest child turns 14, instead of 8.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, “This change to single parent payments is about making things fairer for parents who are already doing it tough.”

The Federal government is responding to continual calls for change from single mum advocate groups to relieve the financial pressure on single mum families around Australia.

Finally a government is taking steps towards restoring the previously removed single mother pension from women – at least in the most-part – to help support single Mums and their children.

Anthony Albanese was raised by a single mum

Anthony Albanese was raised by a single mother and experienced first-hand how much pressure sole parent families can be under. He has supported the change to help relieve the financial pressure single parent families are under so that mothers aren’t forced to return to work early, when their children are too young to adequately care for themselves.

Minister for Social Services, Amanda Rishworth stated, “No parent should have to choose between meeting their children’s needs and their family’s safety or economic security.”

Here are the facts:

What is the change to the Centrelink Single Parent Payment?

This Budget will see the extension of the Parenting Payment (Single), so that eligible carers can access more financial support until their youngest dependent child turns 14.

When will the Single Parent Payment be extended?

The Single Parent Payment will change from the 20th of September 2023 (subject to legislation procedure). Single parents will be able to stay on the Single Parenting Payment until their youngest child turns 14, instead of being moved to the lower paid JobSeeker benefit when their youngest child turns 8.

What if I am already on JobSeeker?

If you are already receiving the JobSeeker Payment and your youngest child is aged under 14 you will automatically be transferred to Parenting Payment Single.

What is the difference between the Single Parenting Payment and Jobseeker?

The current base rate of Centrelink’s Parenting Payment (Single) is $922.10 per fortnight.

Jobseeker’s maximum basic rate payment for eligible parents and carers is currently $745.20.

How much more money will I get?

PPS is $176.90 per fortnight higher than the lower-paid Jobseeker.

Who benefits from the raise in Parenting Payment Single?

The vast majority of Australian parents affected by this change are single mothers. They represent more than 90 per cent of carers who will benefit. That’s 57,000 single principal carers – 52,000 of which are women.

Will there be mutual obligation requirements?

Unfortunately mutual obligation requirements will still remain in place for recipients of Parenting Payment (Single). More details to come on how this will work.

By Single Mum Australia Staff

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Centrelink’s ParentsNext changes – what single mums need to know

May 7, 2023

Everything you need to know about the Albanese Government’s abolishing of ParentsNext, and the pausing of mutual obligations and participation requirements.

Single mother holding toddler — ParentsNext is being cut and you may have a lot of questions

For many Australian single mums who are participants of ParentsNext, the Centrelink scheme is a constant threat to their financial stability. One missed appointment or attendance could result in the immediate suspension of their Centrelink payments.

For others, ParentsNext has helpful back to work training, child care subsidies and other support benefits.

Whichever way you see it, the Government has just announced that they are abolishing the ParentsNext program and suspending all compulsory mutual obligations.

We’ve put together a list of answers to some of the big single mum questions regarding the axing of ParentsNext.

When does Parents Next end?
When do ParentsNext compulsory obligations end?
Do Jobseeker compulsory obligations end too?
I’m on ParentsNext – what do I need to do?
What do single mums need to tell Centrelink?
Are there changes to Community Development Programs?
What is ParentsNext?
Can I volunteer to join ParentsNext?
Will there be a new ParentsNext program?

When does Parents Next end?

The Albanese government has announced that ParentsNext will be cancelled entirely from 1 July 2024.

When do ParentsNext compulsory requirements end?

From the 5 of May 2023, all Parents Next compulsory requirements are paused. You will no longer lose your Centrelink benefits for not attending interviews or taking part in any Parent Next activities.

All ParentsNext compulsory participation has ceased and has been officially paused.

You can read our complete guide to Australian single mother Centrelink benefits and payments here.

Do Jobseeker compulsory requirements end too?

No. All other Centrelink compulsory requirements other than ParentsNext continue as normal.

I’m on ParentsNext – what do I need to do?

You may still be invited to join ParentsNext if appropriate.

You can commence or continue to be in the program if you choose to and take part in any current activities and receiving current supports.

Parents participating in ParentsNext will still receive help to plan and prepare for employment, including financial assistance to undertake education or training. The Albanese Government encourages single mums to continue to access ParentNext supports on a voluntary basis.

However any of your compulsory participation requirements have now been “paused”.

Any of the activities or tasks you were placed in as a Parents Next customer are now no longer required if you don’t wish to take part. This includes attending compulsory provider appointments.

You will no longer be required to attend any activities that were set by your provider or agree to any previously compulsory Participation Plan.

You are no longer being threatened with your Centrelink payments being cancelled or stopped because you didn’t satisfy your ParentsNext requirements.

What single mums still need to tell Centrelink

Single mother and son — Don’t forget you still have some Centrelink commitments.

Do I need to Report to Centrelink?

Yes. You still need to report any income or earnings you receive to Centrelink.

Do I need to tell Centrelink if I have a partner?

Yes. If you haven’t already done so, all Centrelink Single Parent Payment recipients are required to disclose if they are no longer single as it may affect your payments.

You need to let Centrelink know if your circumstances change, such as if you enter into a new romantic relationship, have a new partner or move in with a boyfriend.

If you are receiving Single Parenting Payment (or Jobseeker, or other Centrelink benefits) the amount you receive may be affected by your new relationship.

You can read about what kind of relationships may affect your Centrelink payment here.

Are there changes to Community Development Programs?

The government has also announced that many of Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia’s Community Development Programs mutual obligation or participation requirements have also been paused.

Check if your CDP program has been affected on the Centrelink website here.

What is ParentsNext?

Single mother and toddler child — Single mothers receiving the Single Parenting Payment may be put on ParentsNext

ParentsNext was a compulsory program introduced by the Coalition government in 2018. It was officially described as “helping” parents of children aged under six prepare for future work and employment. It aimed at creating a pathway for single mothers to get off welfare and back into the workforce via study or work goals.

Whist this sounds like a supportive program, participation for many was not a choice, with “customers” of the scheme actually being termed as “compulsory participants”.

What the ParentsNext scheme actually did was threaten, and indeed in many cases remove the Centrelink benefits of single mums who didn’t comply with the program. If they missed an appointment, activity or training their payments could be suspended indefinitely.

ParentsNext threatened disadvantaged Australian single mums with removing their Centrelink payments

ParentsNext was seen by many Aussie low-income mums as yet another government hoop to jump through, which actually added further to the stress of being newly divorced, separated or single woman with dependent children.

Single mothers who were already struggling, searching to find a new place to live after leaving an (often abusive) relationship, trying to survive with the majority care of their children whilst on low welfare payments and all the other added stresses of bringing up young children alone had even more onerous responsibilities heaped upon them by the ParentsNext scheme. If mothers didn’t meet their compulsory requirements, they faced imminent homelessness, starvation and poverty.

Can I volunteer to be in ParentsNext?

Yes. You can volunteer to be in ParentNext if you have a child under six years of age, are receiving Centrelink Parenting Payment and you don’t live in a Community Development Program or live in Norfolk Island. Contact Centrelink for more information.

Will there be a new ParentsNext program?

The government has indicated that yes, there will be a replacement work support program, but it will be a voluntary scheme that doesn’t threaten to take away Centrelink payments if you participate. We can only wait and see what that looks like after the approaching Budget announcements – watch this space!

By Single Mum Australia Staff

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Centrelink Single Parenting Payment changes – more money – child age increase expected

May 6, 2023

Expert Opinion Panel

Jason Bryce – Business & Finance Specialist

Single mum and teenage daughter - Photo source: Bigstock — Single mums will have a reason to smile again when the single parenting payment goes up. Photo source: Bigstock

Howard and Gillard’s single parent pension cut to be restored?

By Jason Bryce

Next Tuesday the Treasurer Jim Chalmers will apparently largely reverse Julia Gillard’s axing of the Parenting Payment (Single) for single parents whose youngest child is 8 years of age or older.

Leaks and information coming out of Canberra indicate the parenting payment will be restored for single parents until their youngest child enters high school.

Single mums struggle on the Centrelink Jobseeker payment

Hundreds of thousands of mothers and children have lived in very difficult financial circumstances over the last 11 years. The Howard government first cut the Parenting Payment in 2006 but ‘grandfathered’ all recipients already on Parenting Payment.

The Gillard government ended the grandfathering, sending more than 80,000 parents onto the lower Newstart (now called Jobseeker) rate very suddenly.

Single mother with no money. Photo source: Bigstock — Single mums suddenly found themselves with much less. Photo source: Bigstock

Parenting Payment (Single) is currently $949.30 per fortnight including a supplement of $27.20. That’s more than $200 over the $745.20 per fortnight current rate for Jobseeker (Single with dependent children).

Raising the Parenting Payment age of the youngest child

The big question seems to be what will be the new maximum age for the youngest dependent child under the new Parenting Payment (Single) rate?

The minister for women Katy Gallagher is believed to be pushing for a cut-off at age 14. The government’s Expenditure Review Committee is arguing for 13.

The minister for women Katy Gallagher - Photo source: Katy Gallagher Instagram — The minister for women Katy Gallagher – Photo source: Katy Gallagher Instagram

The Albanese government apparently believes a child should be sufficiently independent by high school age for the parent to re-enter the workforce.

The government was being pressured to return the cut-off age to 16 years but that seems to be off the table. The Women’s Economic Equality Taskforce, the Greens Party, some independent MPs, and women’s advocates like Anne Summers all asked the government to return the age limit to 16 years.

“These are good people, calling for more spending in the budget,” said Jim Chalmers.

“We take these considerations and these proposals in good faith.

The government cut billions of dollars from already struggling single parents

The government is believed to have saved more than $5 billion over ten years cutting the Parenting Payment. Lifting the age back to 13 or 14 will cost $1.1 billion over the next three years.

Australian cash - Source: Bigstock — The governments welfare cuts resulted in further single mother poverty

The Treasurer Jim Chalmers said he’s trying to be responsible with government finances and assist the neediest.

“We are a Labor government, and we will always try and do what’s right by people.

“I need to make it all add up. I need to do that in a responsible way and that’s what we’re focused on.”

The Liberal Party Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor said the government should focus on getting people into the workforce.

“We have over 420,000 vacancies in the economy,” said Mr Taylor. “The most important priority is to help people into work.”

Unfair single parent welfare payments

I was cut off the pension by John Howard, not Julia Gillard.

Single dad dropping his child off at school. Photo source: Bigstock — Two classes of single parent on welfare. Photo source: Bigstock

Australia’s first female prime minister Julia Gillard is known around the world for her famous ‘misogyny speech’ delivered to parliament on 9^th October 2012. That speech has been voted most unforgettable moment on Australian TV.

These days you can buy Misogyny Speech earrings, tea towels, mugs and all sorts of merchandise.

That same afternoon (9^th October 2012) the government passed amendments pushing 80,000 single parents off the parenting payment and onto the lower Newstart payment, up to $110 a week less.

These two events are forever linked in history and muddy Julia Gillard’s legacy among many women and parents.

Terese Edwards, CEO of the National Council of Single Mothers and their Children was at Parliament House on the day of the famous speech but did not see it.

Julia Gillard's misogyny speech at Parliament House in 2012 — Julia Gillard spoke on misogyny whilst taking money away from single mothers

“I wanted to clap and cheer and be part of that empowerment, but I couldn’t,” said Terese Edwards.

Terese was with many other single mums, outside the parliament protesting the cut to the single parent payment.

Prime Minister John Howard took welfare away from struggling single mothers

What is often forgotten is the first part of the story. John Howard introduced the age 8 cut off for the parenting payment in 2006 but grandfathered all current recipients.

Prime Minister John Howard of Australia at Question Time in Parliament House in 2007 — PM John Howard cut the Parenting Payment from mothers of older kids

That created a strange situation where two single parents with children of the same age could be treated completely differently by Centrelink.

Two mums chatting at the school yard gate could learn one is getting a reasonable deal whilst one is struggling with looking for work and poverty level government payments.

My youngest (of three) children turned 8 years old in 2009. But I had only been receiving a part-payment since 2007. I was cut off on my child’s eighth birthday.

I remember helping a single mum friend in 2010 to move into her newly purchased home, which she could afford because she had been grandfathered.

I remember the school gate conversations and confusion with other single parents about payments work requirements.

John Howard’s actions in cutting the single parent payment left us with two classes of single parent. Julia Gillard fixed that – by putting everyone in the same miserable poverty-stricken boat.

Jason Bryce

Jason is an expert business, finance and consumer issues journalist specialising in personal finance, debt, consumer issues and banking, Jason is now based in Melbourne and works as a journalist . Previously Jason has worked for ABC TV, News Ltd and plenty of magazines and online publishers. You can keep up to date with the latest Centrelink news and information at Jason’s Facebook page, Centrelink News or his website www.jasonbryce.com.au.
Jason is a proud single dad of three children. Follow Jason on Twitter @JasonBryce.

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