Single parents could be worse off if they marry, new analysis suggests

Single parents could be worse off if they marry, new analysis suggests

A new analysis from the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) suggests that some single parents could be worse off financially if they move in with a partner or get married.

This is not a change in the rules. It is a look at how the current system already works for different households.

The think tank says it comes down to how tax, benefits and childcare support are worked out when people live together.

In some cases, this can mean a drop in overall household income when a single-parent household becomes a couple household.

Here is what it means for your money.

What the analysis is saying

The CSJ talks about something called a “couple penalty”.

This is when two people can end up with less support when they live together or marry than they would if they were assessed separately.

It says this can affect single parents in particular, because benefits and childcare support often make up a big part of their income.

In some situations, the combined impact of changes to tax, benefits and childcare costs could leave a household with less money overall.

But this will not be the same for everyone.

Why this can happen

It comes down to how support is calculated.

Most help, including universal credit and childcare support, is based on household income.

So when two people move in together or get married, both incomes are looked at together.

That can mean less support than when each person was assessed on their own.

The CSJ says this can sometimes lead to results that feel unexpected when people’s circumstances change.

What this could mean for you

If you are a single parent, this is not about making decisions based only on money.

But it does show how your income could change if your household changes.

Depending on your situation, moving in with a partner or getting married could affect things like:

• universal credit
• childcare support
• help with housing costs

What happens will depend on your income, rent and childcare costs.

There is no one fixed outcome.

What to do if your situation changes

If you’re thinking about moving in with a partner or getting married, it is worth knowing that your benefits are based on household income.

That means your payments could change later on if your situation changes.

If you are unsure, it can help to get things checked before you make any big decisions.

You can speak to your work coach, housing support worker, or use our free online benefits checker.