Does the government offer enough benefits and assistance for single mothers?

Question

Are you a single parent? Does the family tax benefit, parenting payment and child care benefit assist you? Do you get any other assistance from centrelink? Do you need more financial assistance or any other form of assistance? How do you think they could improve the system?

Answer 1

i am a single mother and its hard, but as far as food-stamps and child care is good. they give you just enough to manage with, you still have to pay for things they only give you so much for day care it would be $194 a mo for me, and i get $200 in food stamps but that covers pretty much the babys food i still spend my money on food too. we do not depend completely on them they just help, since the price of living is so high. it does not mean because a person is on welfare they do not work its the oppisite here you have to work to recieve anything.
Housing is a lot more of a challenge because people abuse the system insted of using the system for a short amout of time and going to school or somthing to try and better ones self so they can make it with out needing assistance from the government. i hav known some people to hav lived there entire life in the projects (or housing) not all section 8 homes are in the projects but the list to get a home is 6mo to 1 year

Answer 2

Yes I am a single parent. And yes I recieve Family Tax benefit A and B as well as single parenting payment. I dont get any other assistence from centrelink. I'm not sure what they could really assist me with to be honest. As for more financial assistance that would be nice as although I am very grateful to be able recieve the payment it just barely covers basics and is a major struggle.
I dont work as after doing the maths it would only make me more broke if I worked. Childcare still costs heaps and the child care benefit doesnt cover all of it, plus I wouldnt be able to make much money, or even get a job that let me work in a time frame suitable to looking after my kids. Thanks to Jonny's new work choice laws.

I'm not sure how they could improve the system. I'm sure there are many ways but I can't think of them right now.

Answer 3

Not all single parents were always single. Many had husbands who walked out or died and don't forget that a large number of single parents are MEN. As far as enough being offered, YES. My only improvement would be for those few who do rort the system popping one baby after another: after being granted a Parenting Payment as a single parent free slow release contraceptive implants that are placed just under the skin would be a nifty idea to prevent the sad situation of extra children being produced. Of course, the implant should be removed if it can be shown that the person has developed a long term and to all intents and purposes, secure relationship.

Answer 4

I'm a single parent and the ONLY benefit I get is from my taxes. They say I make to much money for anything else. I don't get food stamps, welfare or child care help, I get nothing. I think that more single mothers could get the child care help, that would help a lot of mothers. And for Louis L, before you make nasty comments, make sure you know what you're talking about. It's ignorant men like you that leave single mothers to raise children by themselves. Luckly my daughter's father understand that even though our relationship didn't work, we are BOTH still responsible for our daughter and he takes very good care of her.

Answer 5

yes. nut you cant afford your own apt just enough to pay for what you need. If you have 1 family menber on ur case (just you you get 200 if you have 2 its 150 added to your case in food stamps if your getting aid and you work then it varrys on income if you have no job and u dont know who the father is or if ur bf isnt living with you he will be after to pay back the aid you get if he doesnt have a job it will come off his taxes and pay checks when he does work ( it will build up. u have no say since its the state vs ur bf whether he helps pay you or not. -all tho you can appeal it. but they decide if they will agree to not go after him. not having a job doesn't count as a free pass that **** will bring him in dept the longer you r on aid. now if its 2 people for cash aid the most you can get is 636. in CA. you cant just have baby's and get more aid after 10 months and you don't have a second child by 10 nonstop months of receiving aid then if you have a other kid they say no we are not increasing you aid. but again you can appeal. once you get aid for your self you only get it for 4 years. food stamps is continuous till you don't need it or you have to much income. It is illegal federally to deny you homeless assistance and insurance. that happened to me and when I needed aid they only gave me 89 bucks ( I didn't have a job and my ex wasn't with me so i should have had the full bennifits.) its not all easy to just show up they will have you fill out papers ever 3 months and because we are broke you have to do a lot of appeals.... expect to have a hard time having a job and you have to go to welfare court to appeal there decision and get stuck because if they lower your amount and you appeal you get that amount till they see it was wrong and then remembered you but if you do it early then they will have you wait till the next 3 month report you turn in then give you what they owe so keep ALL papers and get recipes of ones you turn it because they will not always keep the records fild and will try to kick you off because they are to messy and not reliable to just save a buck...

Answer 6

I think that they do. I am currently a single mother on welfare. And NO I am not a leech. I was in a long term relationship when I got pregnant. I wasn't trying, and we were using contraceptives. He bailed and now I am a single mother. I got on welfare, because it was all so sudden and I needed a hand. Now I am working my butt off, getting my baby ready for childcare and trying to get myself a job. That's tough! If not for welfare I would be in an even tougher spot.
Those of you who are quick to judge single mothers should grow up. Stop acting so immature. We're not all stupid, lazy women who cant keep their legs closed. Some of us are honest hardworking people and we were given a raw deal. Welfare is here for those people. Yes, some people take advantage. But you shouldn't prejudge everyone else due to that fact!

Answer 7

i am a single mother i am 19 years old and i deffinatly did not lay on my back and spread my legs thinking "hmm i think i will go on welfare and be broke as a joke" i am using the system exaxtly what it is meant for. i am a going to school to be a nurse and in the next four years i will be making atl east sixty thousand dollars year. so for people who are ignorant and think that just because you are on welfare you are a lazy peice of crap you are wrong. i work harder doing it alone than any parent who has a spouse to help them so dont even tell me.