Child Allowance. Ombudsman Suggests Reconsidering the Legal Framework for Single-Parent Families with Dependent Adult Children

The Ombudsman’s Office suggested to the Secretary of State for Social Security that she reassess the classification of “single-parent household” in the context of family allowance eligibility. It was concluded that the terms of this classification are leading to decisions that are out of step with the reality of the families this benefit is intended to protect.

The problem was identified through the analysis of a specific case involving a family consisting of a mother with three children. When the eldest daughter reached the age limit for continuing to receive family allowances, the household was no longer considered a single-parent household, which resulted in a reduction in the amount of family allowances for the two younger siblings. This was because, according to the legal definition, the household was no longer considered to consist of a single adult. The young adult, however, has a severe disability and is unable to exercise basic rights, remaining entirely dependent on her mother.

Based on this case, in which the household continues to rely solely on a single adult, the Ombudsman’s Office suggested to the Secretary of State that the current system be reviewed to ensure that the objectives of the single-parent supplement are met.

Family allowance is a benefit intended solely for low-income families, the amount of which is increased in cases of single-parent households, a factor that exacerbates the risk of poverty.

The letter sent to the Secretary of State can be found here [in Portuguese only]