Lone parent employment “can harm children”

Trying to push lone parents into work by making it more
difficult for them to claim benefits will only benefit children if
parents can get decent jobs and if affordable, high quality child
care is available says a new think tank report.

Without increased support for lone parent families, increasing
conditions on benefits will put children at risk and increase
hardship and poverty says the Institute for Public Policy Research
report..

Using  evidence from the US the report says that forcing lone
parents into work without boosting their skills or career prospects
can lock them into dead-end jobs and entrenched poverty.
Sanctions and sweeteners: rights and responsibilities in the
benefits system, by Kate Stanley. www.ippr.org