Determining who is a parent

A client applying for Sole Parent Support should be the child's natural or adoptive parent. If the client is not the child's natural or adoptive parent, you can regard the child as their own when:

• the child is being maintained by the client and
• was at any time maintained by the client's partner or
• each of the child's natural or adoptive parents are deceased, cannot be found, or suffers a serious long-term disablement which renders them unable to care for the child or
• due to a breakdown in the child's family no natural, adoptive or step parent is able to care for the child or provide fully to the child's support or
• the child's natural, adoptive or step parents and/or guardians are unwilling to support the child

For more information see:

• Dependent child
• Child not supported
• Parents unable to care for child
• Parents unwilling to care for child

The legislation doesn't tell you how long the child must be maintained by the couple but it should be a reasonable period of time, not just a few weeks.

A couple takes responsibility for a close relative's child and maintains the child for some years before they separate. This child would be considered as their own child.

For more information see:

• Father of a child