Single parent families have been left in the dark in Budget 2023, one parent has claimed.
Linda O’Sullivan is a single parent to two children and a representative for parent advocacy group SPARK. She says she was happy overall with allocations made in the Budget, but that the issues of child maintenance and credits for single parents were neglected.
Linda told Dublin Live: “The single person child carer credit is a concern. We don’t know if that was an oversight because they mentioned every other credit besides that. We’re waiting to see if that will be mentioned but there is nothing so far in any government statement.”
READ MORE: Budget 2023: Parents the 'big winners' but childcare waiting lists will 'boom' under new measures
Additionally, Linda states that many lone parents find themselves locked out of the Living Alone Allowance due to its qualifying income threshold. Recipients of this allowance will get an additional €200 this winter to help them tackle rising costs, but many lone parents are unable to access it due to their employment status.
However, she says most single parents are satisfied with the changes made by the budget, including the increase of €12 on social welfare payments. The greatest obstacle that faces one parent families accessing appropriate resources is not the government, but stigma itself.
Linda added: “I think the government don’t view us as a family unit sometimes and that comes across in the decisions they make. They can’t see the challenges we face because they’re not in our shoes. I think a bit of empathy and compassion to make changes for families like mine is needed going forward.”
The budget also failed to acknowledge child maintenance payments, a move which was criticised online by some advocacy groups. Access for All Ireland also criticised the reliance on one off payments to help ease financial pressures, suggesting that families would return to “square one” if the grants cease in the new year.
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