The Impact of Coronavirus on Single Parents

The coronavirus pandemic is an unprecedented health and – inreasingly – economic crisis for the UK, and the world more broadly. Despite there being almost three million single parents in the UK, we have been largely absent from plans and dicsussions to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus. In London, one of the areas worst hit by the virus, almost 20% of families are headed by single parents.

The recent economic measures announced by the government, whilst a welcome reassurance for some, do not go far enough at all. Single parents in Britain are predominately female (90%) and overwhelmingly in paid employment (70%), but many are in low paid and insecure jobs meaning the changes to work and income levels over this time will have a huge impact. On average, single parent families earn almost 30% less than couples pre-pandemic, and a third of children in working, single parent homes live in poverty. These families – through no fault of their own – will not have large savings to fall back on, nor the security of a second income at this time. The increased financial and job insecurity for single parents will create additional stresses as well as very real financial implications for many single parent families already struggling to survive.

Whilst the increase in universal credits this year is welcomed. This does not go far enough and in reality is less than £100 extra per month. What’s more, it’s unclear how this will break down and given universal credit replaces numerous benefits from the old system, this might equate to minimal – if any – increase in reality. Even with 80% of salaries secured for some workers, this will not be enough for many to continue paying their regular bills. Many single parents were already living pay cheque to pay cheque and many were reliant on a second income, either through taking on additional work, or renting out a spare room in their home. These options for a second income have become significantly curtailed, if not stopped, in the face of the pandemic. Single parents need extra reassurance from the government that their salaries will be maintained in full.

Those single parents who are self-employed are facing huge levels of financial insecurity. Whilst a couple on £30, 000 each could see their combined furloughed salary as high as £48, 000 per annum, a self employed single mother might have to cope on £4, 800 for the same period. This financial insecurity has a knock on impact on the health of the nation as single parents make difficult decisions to continue working and not isolate, and possibly rely on older – more vulnerable – relatives for childcare support. It is imperative that the government steps in and removes the additional burden from single parents and reassures us specifically, that we will not lose income, whether that’s from self-employment or otherwise.

It is likely that the government will see a significant increase in single parents applying for universal credit during this time. Some of these individuals will have savings over the £16, 000 threshold, preventing them from accessing any support. The government should consider waving the limit for those single parents who do NOT own property. Many single parents have saved for years prior to this to purchase a property, many have some savings following the sale of a marital home but have not yet been able to secure a mortage and purchase a home for themselves. Forcing single parents to deplete these savings in a time of national crisis seems unfair given the nature and intention of most of these savings. Meanwhile, under the current system it would be possible for a couple who own a one million pound home, mortgage free, to receive the full income support through universal credits if their income falls below the threshold.

The mortgage holiday will assist some single parent home owners, although the three month limit is looking more and more insufficient and shuold be reconsidered. The support for renters appears almost non-existent and single parents need to be assured that their homes will not be under threat during this challenging time. Not least because it could place people’s health in danger but also because the worry surrounding insecure housing has a huge impact on single parents day to day living.

The impact of childcare and school closures is likely to be felt more harshly in single parent homes where there isn’t a second parent to split childcare duties with whilst each parent takes it in turns to work. Many single parents are currently worried that they will be the first to be let go as businesses face sudden and unexpected income falls. Single parents need additional promises that their lack of childcare cannot result in them losing their job either during, or immediately following, this pandemic.

Many single parents are facing ongoing childcare bills through nurseries and childminders, despite childcare being unavailable. The government needs to step in and support childcare providers to secure their business without resorting to takings funds for services not being provided.

Whilst it’s fair to say that many single parents are used to high levels of lonliness, a lack of freedom, and a greater sense of isolation which may stand us in good stead at this time, it’s also clear that our mental health already suffers as a consequence of these – and other – challenges unique to single parenting. Thirty percent of single parents report mental health concerns; almost double the number of coupled parents. Self-isolating or living in lock down with your child(ren), alone, for days and weeks on end, could place some, if not many, single parents at breaking point. Whilst this isn’t to say single parents should be excluded from the advice on isolation (they shouldn’t), policy makers should consider how to mitigate this risk of serious mental health struggles for single parents at this exceptionally isolating time. Additional (virtual) checkins from health visitors and other professionals through this time could help, and specific advice for single parents around creating a (very small) social bubble within which they can isolate (replicating the average size of a UK family for example) and ensuring this is done as safely as possible, might be considered depending on the ongoing spread of the virus’.

Those single parents who co-parent must be considered when developing plans for any potential lock-downs. They should also be provided with clear advice for self-isolating. In other European countries parents are allowed between the childrens two homes to collect/ drop the child off to enable contact with both parents to continue. Currently parents sharing care in the UK lack any clear advice or direction on how to handle this situation. It would seem sensible to suggest that families spilt across two homes can be counted as one and move between the home (as safely as possible), to enable as least disruption to children as possible during this time. This would essentially mean counting two home families as one family for the purposes of a lockdown or isolation and allowing travel between them.

The practical impact on single parents of self-islation and a potential lockdown also needs to be considered. Whilst elderly and key workers are rightly being provided special slots for shopping, single parents with young children have not yet been provided with any additional support. Many single parents, who have a lower rate of private car use than the average family, already relied on supermarket deliveries which are now unavailable for many. Prioritising deliveries for single parents would remove a very practical burden, and reduce the risk of single parents having to shop with their children which in turn increases the risk of the virus spreading.

Single parenting is often described as extreme parenting and this pandemic has pushed many single parents closer to the edge, practically, financially and emotionally. Without an appropriate package of support for single parents, many may face financial and emotional ruin. Whatsmore, some single parents will be forced to take measures which are detrimental to the nation’s health through no fault of their own.

The UK government needs to provide the support outlined here to single parents immediately, and without conditions, so single parents can focus on the important job of supporting their children during these difficult times and adhering to the advice around social distancing and self-isolation as required.

I have put together a petition to call on the UK government to provide a package of support for single parents and to ensure they consider the impact on single parents at this time as policy making continues at a fast pace. Please consider signing and sharing this petition to help amplify the voice of single parents accross the UK.

Thank you for your support, this is a challenging time for ALL families across the UK. This petition aims to raise the voice of one marginal group amongst many. This is not to suggest that single parents are the only group suffering, nor that they are the only group which needs specific provisions to minimise detrimental impacts. We are in this together. Let’s support ALL groups as best we can.

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