Amended changes to benefits for low income families - which could affect scores of lone parents - will be brought back to Tynwald this month.

The changes to Employed Person’s Allowance and Income Support for lone parents due to go before the January Tynwald were withdrawn at the 11th hour following concern over their impact.

Certain groups will have to work more hours to qualify for EPA from June 2020.

Under the original plan, lone parents with children over 13 would have had to work almost twice the hours - rising from the current 16 hours to 30 - before they are eligible to apply.

But now that has been reduced to 24 hours.

The minimum for lone parents with children under 13 will stay at 16 hours.

Other amendments to EPA regulations will see couples being able to add together the hours they work to meet the minimum requirement to qualify.

That limit for couples irrespective of the age of their youngest child, is currently 30 hours which must be worked by either or both partners.

But under the proposals, couples will have to work a total of 35 hours between them if their youngest child is under six or 48 hours if aged six or over.

Exceptions are provided so that couples where one partner or their child is disabled, incapacitated for at least 30 days or six-months pregnant will see the minimum requirement increase from 30 to 35 hours.

There will be no change to the current 16-hour minimum for carers of a severely disabled person or disabled workers.

Other planned changes to benefits for lone parents will come in on April 2, 2020 and will mean they will no longer be able to claim income support if their youngest child is six or over. They can currently claim if they have children under 12. Those in full-time education or training won’t be affected.

Treasury Minister Alfred Cannan MHK said: ’We have listened carefully to the feedback received in respect of our original proposals.’

Ninety lone parents and 35 couples could be impacted by the EPA changes and about a third of 300 lone parents on income support could lose benefits.