The Scottish Parliament is in recess from 26 June to 29 August 2021 (inclusive).
Please note that you can still submit or sign a petition, however, a response from the clerking team may take significantly longer than usual during this time.
Under consideration PE1868: Support for working single parents
Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to provide support to single parents by—
*increasing the council tax discount available to single parents from 25% to 50%; and
*lobbying the UK Government to create a working single parent tax allowance and a household income-based child benefit.
Previous action taken
I have contacted MSPs Rona Mackay, Neil Bibby, Ross Greer and Jamie Greene.
I have also emailed Nicola Sturgeon.
Background information
I believe that single working parents face financial discrimination from the Scottish and UK Governments.
The Scottish Government should make a change to Council Tax, adding ‘Single parent’ to the 'disregarded' list, so that single parents are eligible for a 50% discount. This would help single parents by removing the extra 25% burden they pay from 1 salary vs households with two working parents.
I am also petitioning the UK Government to change income tax and child benefits, to help single parents.
Two working parents can earn more as a household e.g. £40,000 from 2 salaries, and be taxed less, compared to a 'single parent', who earns more as an individual e.g. £25,300, but less as a household. The same situation applies in child benefit eligibility. The availability of a married couple allowance again highlights more discrimination.
I would like the Scottish Government to support my call for a working single parent tax allowance, and to lobby to the UK Government for this.
This petition is now under consideration by the Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
316 signatures