Rate of payment - sole parents
If payment of Supported Living Payment is to continue while a sole parent client is in prison, you will need to determine the rate to pay to the temporary caregiver.
The Supported Living Payment should generally be paid at the equivalent rate of Unsupported Child's Benefit that would be payable if the caregiver qualified for this.
Exception
However there is discretion to continue payment at the full sole parent rate.
You can consider including the following costs to calculate the rate to pay the temporary caregiver while the client is in prison:
- rent or outgoings if the children are being cared for in the client's home
- the client's other commitments if these costs are for essential items and they cannot be suspended, such as Child Support payments (where the client does not qualify for an exemption) or hire purchase for an essential item
The total amount paid to the temporary caregiver must not exceed the maximum amount of Supported Living Payment payable.
SWIFTT
The Supported Living Payment and family tax credit and Best start tax credit should continue in the client's name and be paid to the caregiver as an agent in SWIFTT.
When the temporary caregiver is to be paid less than the maximum rate of Supported Living Payment, you will need to add this as a non-standard rate using the SNSRA screen in SWIFTT.
For more information see:
