Sole parents

When a sole parent client is imprisoned they will no longer be entitled to Young Parent Payment.

The Young Parent Payment should be suspended from the day after imprisonment.

The service provider or Work and Income "in-house" service may need to find out who is caring for the client's children and the length of time the client is likely to be in prison. This information can be obtained by contacting the prison liaison officer at the Department of Corrections.

Generally, the caregiver will need to apply for financial assistance in their own right.

They may be entitled to:

• have the children included as dependent children in their current benefit
• Unsupported Childs Benefit
• Emergency Benefit Caring for a child who is not their own or
• family tax credit and Best Start tax credit through Inland Revenue

There is discretion to pay all or part of the Young Parent Payment to a temporary caregiver caring for the client's children.

There is also discretion to continue payment if the client is remanded in custody pending a further court appearance.

For more information see:

• Decision guidelines - sole parents
• Rate of payment - sole parents
• Examples - sole parents
• Remanded in custody