5,184 single parents on social benefits

5,184 single parents were on some form of social benefits as of last April, social solidarity minister Michael Farrugia revealed.

Responding to a parliamentary question by Opposition MP Clyde Puli, Farrugia revealed that the government spent a total of €6,312,863 on benefits for single parents in April- €2,237,818 on social assistance, €1,281,482 on the ‘Social Assistance for Single Parents scheme, €1,396,045 on unemployment assistance, and €1,397,518 on medical assistance.

This made up 10.58% of the government’s total expenditure on social benefits throughout April.

The government also spent €6,008,248 on the most recent children’s allowance payment for the months between January and April- a total of 10.07% of the government’s expenditure on social benefits throughout April.

Responding to a second parliamentary question by Puli, Farrugia revealed that 371 fewer single parents were on social benefits as of January 2015 when compared with the previous January. He added that 418 single parents have benefited from the benefit tapering scheme- a gradual phasing out of social benefits for unemployed people who find a job- since its introduction at the start of 2014.