The Government proposes to consider single-parent families with two children numerous. According to the Minister of Health, Social Services and Equality, Dolors Monserrat, these families "have greater difficulties in their day to day to reach the end of the month", so that equating them to the numerous could have support programs.
The Spanish Federation of Large Families is in favor of granting social assistance to single parents with two children, but not through the title of large family.
More than half of single-parent families are at risk of poverty
According to the National Statistics Institute, in Spain there are almost two million single parents, of which more than 80 percent are headed by women.
In his report “Longer than ever”, Save the Children states that mMore than half of these families are at serious risk of poverty or social exclusion, not only for its economic situation, but also for factors such as employment, housing, health or the support network.
The Government has repeatedly announced the comparison of the single-parent family with two children to the large family, but in this term he has promised to make it happen.
A few days ago, the Minister of Health, Social Services and Equality, Dolors Montserrat, said in the Senate that "single-parent families with two children represent 10% and many have difficulty reaching the end of the month, which justifies the need to reinforce support programs by equating them to numerous ".
The State Network of Single Parent Family Entities, goes beyond and demands specific legislation for these types of families, as well as rights similar to those of large families.
They consider that they suffer “fiscal discrimination” and ask for access to discounts on transportation, tax cuts and preferential scores to qualify for scholarships or schoolsThey also demand that the maternity leave be extended to 20 weeks, which would correspond to the sum of the mother's 16 weeks and the four weeks that the father has.
You help yes. Equate to the numerous, not
From the Spanish Federation of Large Families are shown in favor of granting aid to single parents with two children to avoid risks of poverty and exclusion. But not equating them to large families.
They consider that the needs of single parents with two children and the many are very different:
“Families with three members (single parents with two children) do not need large homes, nor are they affected by the penalty for excessive consumption of electricity or water, nor do they use large vehicles”
In addition, they claim that the situation of single parents is often transitory and hardly demonstrable, since many couples live without being listed.
In this regard, the president of the Federation of Associations of Single Mothers, Carmen Flores, undertake to work with the Administration and political parties to avoid possible scam situations that could occur in these cases.
Currently, in Spain, large families are considered to be those made up of one or two parents with three or more dependent children, common or not. But there are some cases in which certain families equate to the numerous according to Law 40/2003:
Families composed of a widowed father or mother with two children
Families composed of one or two parents with two children, common or not, being at least one of them disabled or unable to work
Families of one or two parents with two children, common or not, in which at least one of the parents has a degree of disability equal to or greater than 65 percent.
Families with three or more children whose parents are separated or widowed
Families composed of two or more orphaned siblings of both parents who are subject to guardianship, foster care or guardianship and live with the guardian
For the TSJ being a widow and with two children is not the same as single and with two children
A few weeks ago, the Supreme Court of Justice of Madrid (TSJ) ruled against a single woman with two children He requested that his family situation be considered a large family, as in the cases of widowed women with two minors in charge.
The woman had filed an appeal against the decision of the Community of Madrid to deny her the title of large family, claiming that there was a "perfect identity" between her case and that of a widowed mother, and considering that the law was "discriminatory" to she and her children, who are deprived of bonuses, discounts and preferences in access to scholarships.
The judge dismissed this appeal and said that "the mother had not used a good comparison in form and manner" and that the situation of a single parent family was not comparable due to the death of one of the two spouses, who for choice from the beginning.
This situation could change soon if the Government ends up considering single-parent families with two children as large families.Photos | iStock
