Abstract
Using the Families and Children Survey (2008 Wave) this paper analyses the contribution child maintenance makes to the income packages of lone mothers and asseses whether it help lifts them out of poverty. Results show that despite reforms implemented in October 2008 that allowed parents on means-tested benefits to keep up to £20 per week of child maintenance, the effect on poverty is disappointing. The median amount of payments remains low and only a minority of lone mothers report receiving any money. This raises serious concerns about the Coalition Government's latest proposals to introduce charges for using the statutory child maintenance scheme.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 47-60 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | The Journal of Poverty and Social Justice |
| Volume | 21 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Feb 2013 |
Keywords
- child maintenance
- lone mothers
- income package
- child poverty