Qualifications

To get Emergency Maintenance Allowance, sole parents must have 1 or more dependent children aged under 14 years, and be one of the following:

• getting reduced income due to annual closedown periods
• unpaid during a break in employment
• a 16-19 year old sole parent who is in exceptional circumstances and does not qualify for Young Parent Payment
• a client with split care arrangements who does not qualify for Sole Parent Support
• single and caring for a child not their own when the client cannot get Unsupported Child's Benefit or Orphan's Benefit for the child
• does not meet the 2 years continuous residence requirement for Sole Parent Support

Note if the client qualifies for another main benefit they cannot get Emergency Maintenance Allowance.

In addition, the client must meet other criteria to get Emergency Maintenance Allowance.