Abstract

In 2024, the basic income support receipt rate for lone parent households was 34 percent, compared to just 6 percent for two parent households (Federal Employment Agency statistics, 2025). 93 percent of lone parent households on basic income support are mothers, compared with 82 percent for the total population (Federal Employment Agency statistics, 2024). Although lone mothers on basic income support take up employment more quickly than partnered mothers, they remain on basic income support for just as long. Lone mothers who take up employment rarely leave basic income support immediately. Against this background, this project examines labour market entries and basic income support exits of lone mothers from a long-term perspective. Specifically, the project analyses whether taking up employment increases the chances of leaving basic income support in the long run. Moreover, the project studies the influence of the frequency of job centre appointments on the chances of employment entry and exit from basic income support for lone mothers.