Sole parents

A 50% protection is applied to the benefit rate of sole parents.

For these clients, 50% of their main benefit only is suspended when they have been issued a notice advising they have a warrant to arrest outstanding and within 10 working days of the notice the client has not:

• resolved the warrant
• provided evidence they have taken reasonable steps to resolve the warrant but have been unable to do so because of reasons outside of their control
• provide evidence to dispute they are the person to whom this warrant applies

To pay the sole parent's reduced benefit, the SWTAR screen in SWIFTT will be used.

Note any Extra help and Orphans Benefit or Unsupported Childs Benefit aren't affected by the warrant to arrest and will continue to be paid.

If the client has not resolved their warrant after two weeks, you will need to contact them to discuss financial assistance and resolving their warrant. If the client has still not cleared the warrant at four weeks you will need to send the client a letter advising they need to attend an appointment to discuss on-going entitlement to benefit.

For more information see:

• Effect of last child leaving care
• Effect on benefit if already sanctioned
• Taking all reasonable steps to resolve a warrant
• Restarting the benefit