ONE PARENT FAMILIES WITH DEPENDANTS


One parent families are more likely to have fewer economic resources than other families with dependent children. In 2013–14, on average, one parent families with dependent children received an equivalised disposable household income of $687 per week, which was less than for all households ($998 per week). For most of these households, the main sources of income were employee income (50%) or government pensions and allowances (43%). Due to the composition of one parent households, 48% had one person employed, and 26% of these had no one looking for work (i.e. not in the labour force). Those with children of less than 5 years of age were less likely to be in the labour force than those with children aged 5 years or older (45% compared to 19%).



Overall, one parent families were more likely to be renting their current dwelling (60%). Of all household types, one parent families were the second most likely household to be renting, behind group households of which 80% are renters. The main source of income for one parent families who were renting was more likely to be government pensions and allowances than employee income (56% compared to 39%). The average net worth for one parent families who were renting was $105,700, with the majority of this wealth from superannuation, dwelling contents and other property.

Over one third (38%) of one parent families were homeowners. Unlike one parent households that were renting, the main source of income for these households was more likely to be employee income than government pensions and allowances (68% compared to 23%). These homeowners had a higher net worth than their renting counterparts with an average of $795,500. Due to loan repayments for their owner occupied dwelling, their liabilities were also larger at an average of $165,800 compared to $17,200 for renting households.

Almost two thirds (65%) of one parent families with dependent children had government pensions and allowances contribute over 20% towards their income. The only households which had a higher proportion of income from government pensions and allowances were those where the head of the household was aged 65 years and older. For all one parent families with dependent children the average weekly value of these government pensions and allowances was $417. However, households also received government benefits in kind such as health care and education, which on average total a value of $644 per week for one parent families with dependent children. This compares to $414 per week for all households.