IS for lone parents whose only/younger/youngest child is aged between 5 and 7.

On previous occasions when the age below which an only/younger/youngest child had to be in order for a single parent to qualify for IS was reduced, there was plenty of information around to tell us at what point existing claimants whose child was aged between the old and new limits would lose there entitlement to IS. I can’t find equivalent information for claimants affected by the change just implemented. Can anyone help?

Thanks

The change is in the current welfare reform bill (clause 57) but with little detail.  We’ve put back our estimates of when it’s going to come in from last October until next April but as yet have seen no draft secondary legislation so the answer is basically that the details aren’t available yet, although we expect something simialr to how the changes have been implemented over previous years.

It wasn’t clear from my original post that it was my understanding that from January 2012 only lone parents with a child under the age of five would be able to qualify for Income Support as lone parents. Has that change been put back?

Effectively yes, as the change is in the WRB and that has not yet been passed and nor is there any implementing legislation.  So the expected date is now April 2012, provided the WRB gets passed.

Has this change now come in?  Does it affect existing claimants or new claims only?

Hi-

change came in on 21 may for new and repeat claims and will come in from august 2012 for existing lone parents claimants with a youngest child age five, or who turns five.

see HB/CTB Circular G4/2012 -

http://www.rightsnet.org.uk/pdfs/HB_CTB_G4_2012.pdf

cheers ros