I am a lone parent, can I get any extra help?
If you are bringing up children on your own, you will be eligible for the Lone Parents' Grant. The most we can pay each year is £1,270. You can also claim the Child Tax Credit, whether or not you are in paid work. The Child Tax Credit will also cover free school meals. You can visit the HM Revenue and Customs website or call them on 0845 300 3900 to find out if you are eligible.
What do I have to do to prove that I am a lone parent?
You must send us a copy of evidence each year to prove that you are a lone parent. Examples of the evidence we will accept are:
- a copy of the front page of your tax credit award and the relevant page which shows you have made a claim as an individual;
- a copy of a letter from the Department for Work and Pensions which show you receive benefit as a lone parent;
If you cannot give us one of the above, we may accept a letter, on company header paper, from a professional person who knows your circumstances and can confirm that you are a lone parent. A professional person can be, for example, a doctor, lawyer, teacher, police officer or minister of religion.
As a lone parent, do I get any help towards childcare?
You may be entitled to the Additional Childcare Grant for Lone Parents if you pay for registered or formal childcare and you receive the Lone Parents' Grant. You can receive up to £1,185 a year, depending on your childcare costs. We will ask you for details about your childcare provider and confirmation of the amounts you will pay.
Your college or university also have a childcare fund to help towards your costs. They are responsible for deciding which students should receive payments and how much each payment should be.