This from JCP on the issue of lone parents and benefits:

All,

Lone Parent Obligations

I am writing to let you know about recent amendments to Social Security Regulations which affect some Lone Parents receiving benefits, and to alert you in case you get any enquiries from members of the public.

You may know that Social Security Regulations were amended on 30 December 2009 to restore the original policy intent for existing lone parent customers under Phase 2 Lone Parent Obligations, who will need to claim Employment Support Allowance when their award of Income Support ends if they have a health condition or disability that has not been determined before this date.

Between March and October 2009 some lone parents with a disability or health condition had their award of Income Support (IS) ended incorrectly and were subsequently directed to claim Employment and Support Allowance. We have identified that around 17,000 customers who may have been affected and we now need to contact them to offer them the opportunity to:

· Stay on their current benefit
· Move back to IS, if they are still receiving benefit; or
· Reinstate IS for the period following the end of their award of IS if they are no longer receiving benefit.

From 15th February 2010 an exercise will commence over a four week period, where we will contact all affected lone parents advising them of the error and informing them of their options. (A copy of the letter is attached at Annex A)

Each customer will be asked to complete a reply slip outlining their preference and return it to their local Jobcentre Plus Benefit Delivery Centre (BDC) in a prepaid envelope.

A dedicated national helpline (including Welsh language and textphone numbers) has been set up to provide further information. The number is 0845 850 0456. Additional support will be provided through the customers own Benefit Delivery Centre to help them decide if they are better off remaining on their current benefit.

I would be grateful if you could arrange to cascade the contents of this letter to anyone in your organisation who may get enquiries from our customers on this matter.
If you would like more information about lone parent changes generally and how they are being implemented an Information Pack “Changes to Income Support for Lone Parents and Jobseekers Allowance for all Parents” provides information about the changes for lone parents. This is available on the Jobcentre Plus website at www.dwp.gov.uk/adviser/updates/changes-to-benefits-for-lone

Any issues you may have as a result of this communication can be emailed to QH.LONEPARENTS-WRP@JOBCENTREPLUS.GSI.GOV.UK

Thanks...had one in this week

I had also one of these last week but there was no way the person concerned could have been eligible for IB/IS as their last IB claim ran out in 1996, they only fell ill again in mid 2009 and had been on JSA for all the intervening years. I'm not quite sure why they were sent the letter but it ceratinly caused a good deal of confusion!

We've had several as well.

none of my clients who should have received this letter has got one, although I am trying to get them back onto IS

can any one post a link to one?
thanks, Jim

I'll try to scan and email it to you Jim if you let me have your email address

hi

here's a copy of the letter to claimants -

dwp lone parent letter jan 2010

thanks to paul treloar at gingerbread for sending it to us.

cheers ros