If you are getting maintenance are you eligiable for One-Parent Family Payment (OFP)?

[kim]

'One-Parent Family Payment (OFP) is a payment for men and women who are bringing children up without the support of a partner'.

Above is what it says on the SW website!! If you are getting maintenance from the other parent of the child then you are getting support for the child so how are you eligible for OFP? I am confused.

 

[gipimann]

The "support of a partner" doesn't strictly mean support from maintenance, it's a term used to explain how a person qualifies as a single parent (i.e. the parent is not cohabiting, but is bringing up a child on their own).

The amount of maintenance received could be far less than the weekly rate of One Parent Family Payment, so simply receiving maintenance doesn't mean that someone isn't eligible for OFP.