Single-parent families with two children will be considered a large family in Spain at the beginning of 2022

Family models have changed and solitary motherhood or fatherhood has come to stay. This is reflected in the data of the report ‘There is only one mother: single parenthood, gender and child poverty’, of the High Commissioner for Child Poverty of the Government of Spain, which indicates that the number of single parent households in Spain would reach 1.9 million and that eight out of ten are headed by women.

For this reason, single-parent families have long demanded the consideration of many if they have two dependent children, since there is no state regulation that protects the rights of this type of family unit and there is a great diversity of regulations depending on of the autonomous community in question.

It seems that it will be possible, in the words of the Minister of Social Rights, Ione Belarra. He announced yesterday in the Social Rights Commission of Congress that single-parent families with two children will be considered numerous , a change that will be included in the family diversity law prepared by the government, and that is expected to be approved by the Council of Ministers to early 2022.

What is known about the new family diversity law?

As explained by the minister, this regulation aims to solve the current problems in the “protection” of these families “fragmented, outdated and unequal.”

“It is necessary a law that legally recognizes this diversity and that addresses at the same time the high incidence of situations of vulnerability and risk of poverty and exclusion, which affects families with dependent minors in a more pronounced way, and especially single-mother families. “.

Ione Belarra refers that the law will focus on:

• Advance in the full legal and social recognition of family diversity

• Improve your social protection

• Deploy support measures for conciliation and co-responsibility

• Attend, specifically, to those families who have special circumstances or needs in order to be cared for and supported accordingly.

These axes of the future Family Diversity Law were detailed by the Minister of Social Rights and Agenda 2030 at a press conference.

What is considered a single parent family?

• Widowers and widows and their children.

• Women who face motherhood alone, either with a natural pregnancy or through assisted reproduction.

• Men and women who choose to adopt alone and, in specific cases, those who form a family alone through surrogacy abroad (this option is not legal in our country).

• The separated father or mother and their children when said parent has custody and the children are financially dependent on said parent.

In which communities is there already a single parent family card?

Currently, it can only be obtained in Catalonia, Aragon, the Balearic Islands and the Valencian Community. In the rest of the communities it will be accredited through certificates issued by its Administration.

So far, only six autonomous communities have regulated the title of single-parent family: Aragon, Valencia, Catalonia, Navarra and Cantabria and the Balearic Islands. In Madrid, the decree that regulates the recognition and accreditation of the status of a single-parent family is being processed and that in principle should be approved this year. Also the Ministry of Social Rights and Welfare of Asturias has a draft decree that regulates the recognition of the status of single-parent and single-parent family in the Principality.

Who are recognized today as a large family?

Having a large family title implies tax benefits and other aids that until now can only be accepted:

• Households with at least three children.

• Those formed by a widower or a widower with two children.

• Families with two minors, one of whom has a disability.

• Families in which both parents have a disability or, if one has it, it exceeds 65%.

In addition, in March the general director of Family Diversity and Social Services, Patricia Bezunartea, specified that the norm will include:

• Social helps

• Fiscal benefits

• Housing access programs

• Conciliation measures and specific policies for vulnerable groups such as victims of violence and families at risk of exclusion, with children, with dependents or with disabilities.

Via | Ministry of Social Rights and Agenda 2030

Photos | iStock

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