Solo parents trying to set up a new home after separation might wish to consider this:

From a "Welfare Rights Training Kit", Wellington South Community Law Centre, July 1993 -

"Re-establishment costs - re-establishment grants are a type of Special Needs Grant available in certain circumstances. There is no automatic entitlement to the maximum rates and each application is considered on a case by case basis.

i) Sole Parents

For sole parents who are victims of family violence and are being assisted by social service agencies to re-establish themselves

• $800 recoverable grant for accommodation costs
• $600 non-recoverable grant for beds, bedding, essential appliances, etc.

Sole parents who are recently separated but not subject to family violence are entitled to a $200 non-recoverable grant."

While there may be very good reasons for this policy, it should also be noted that it might result in disproportionate reporting of family violence by those eligible as compared to other, ineligible, people. I have no data on the number of grants made.

Stuart Birks

7 December, 1995