Are you looking to gain a broad understanding of work-family policy in the United Kingdom? If so, you have come to the right place. This webpage will provide you with an overview of some policies affecting working parents.

Pregnancy

• Statutory Maternity Pay- After meeting the Lower Earnings Limit requirement (before tax average of 84 pounds per week), employees are eligible to receive money from their employer just before and after the birth of a child.

• Sure Start Maternity Grant- The government provides grants (do not need to be paid back)to low income pregnant women.

• Paternity Leave- With a goal of fathers supporting mothers and caring for their children, most households that qualify for this also qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay.

Raising a child

• Child Benefit- Almost all citizens qualify to receive these tax-free monthly payments of approximately ten to twenty pounds (depending on the circumstances) for the benefit of their children.
• New Deal for Lone Parents- Those who are eligible receive a personal adviser to assist them in finding a job.
• Income Support- Lone parents who are under sixty years of age qualify for income assistance at varying rates based upon hospital care, disability, and number of depedents.

Caring for disabled children or parents

• Carer's Allowance- Money for those who take care of disabled relatives.
• Early Support Programme- Education and many services available for the parents of young disabled children.
• Disability Living Allowance- Tax-free benefits for mentally and physically disabled individuals who need help with care.

Useful Jargon

• Carer- individual responsible for caring for another.
• Subsidiary Principle- concept of policy revoling around the importance of family and local benefits reflecting resources available at the national level.
• Lone Mother- term includes unmarried, separated, divorced, and single mothers.

Helpful Links

• Working Families- Changing the way we work and live
  • Targeted at parents and employers, this award-winning organization aims to alleviate pressures related to the work-family balance.
• OECD- Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
  • This website makes available all of the OECD statistics, publications, and reports related to the United Kingdom.
• Family and Parenting- Research and policy for the real world
  • With a focus on policy, the institute conducts research regarding families and parenthood and then makes these resources available to the public.

References

Direct Gov

www.direct.gov.uk

Public services all in one place

Gilbert, Tony and Jason L. Powell. 2005. "Family, caring and ageing in the United  

     Kingdom." Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences 19(1):53-57.

Skevik, Anne. 2004. "Family economy workers or caring mothers? Male breadwinning

     and Widows' Pensions in Norway and the UK." Feminist Economics 10(2):91-113.

Rori Miller, Laura Lepre, Amy Long, & Francesca Brennan
This website was designed in an undergraduate sociology course on work-family issues in the European Union.  All of the topics presented on these pages are a compilation of professional research, which we have cited, and thoughts about the work-family situation in the United Kingdom.  It was created over the course of one month under the supervision of Professor Brayfield at Tulane University.