Sole Parent Support : Contents
Decision guidelines - sole parents
When a Sole Parent Support client is imprisoned it is important that financial assistance is available to support any dependent children.
While Sole Parent Support should generally be stopped when the client is imprisoned, there is discretion for payment to be continued and paid to the person who is caring for the client's dependent children.
To help you decide whether it is reasonable to pay the Sole Parent Support to a temporary caregiver while the client is in prison consider the following:
- has the period in prison already passed?
- is the client due to be released from prison shortly?
- is the likely period in prison less than twelve months?
- will the children return to the client's care on their release from prison?
- has the caregiver ceased work to care for the children?
- has the caregiver lost entitlement to their own benefit due to having children in their care?
For further help you can contact Helpline to discuss the circumstances before you make your decision.
For more information see:
Legislation
- Exceptions to rule that benefit not payable during custody in prison or on remand section 218 Social Security Act 2018
