This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

The government’s contentious ParentsNext welfare program is having “devastating” impacts on participants, the majority of whom are single mothers of young children, a Senate inquiry has been told.

Case studies included in submissions to the inquiry include a father of two who was told to take his children to a “story time” session at the library, despite the fact he had raised concerns because his children are on the autism spectrum.

In another case, a cash-strapped parent who was rationing her petrol said she was forced to attend an appointment rather than take her child to school due to the prospect of a payment suspension.

“The [welfare compliance regime] is having devastating impacts – financial, physical and psychological – on parents and their young children,” the non-profit provider Brotherhood of St Laurence said in a submission.

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The inquiry will on Wednesday hold hearings in Melbourne into ParentsNext, a compulsory welfare program for about 73,000 people receiving parenting payments who have a child between the age of six months and five and are classified as “disadvantaged” by Centrelink.

To keep their payments, parents must undertake study or other pre-employment activities, which has often included taking their children to “story time” sessions at the library or playgroup.

If parents do not report their income or attendance at an activity through the Centrelink app, their payments will be temporarily suspended. Welfare groups and some providers argue this has led to a blowout in payment suspensions. Guardian Australia revealed earlier this month that one in five participants had received a payment suspension in six months.

In another de-identified submission, the father of two children with autism said he had been handed a “generic” plan, which required him to take his daughter to a story-time session.

“My daughter’s diagnosis means this is poorly suited to her,” he said.

“I explained and was ignored when I detailed the time commitments I already have. For example, in the 25 business days preceding the appointment … I had to attend 23 separate medical appointments with/for various family members.

“I requested a follow-up appointment to resolve this. Whilst waiting the week for my return interview, my payment was cut for noncompliance with the plan.”

A submission from Mission Australia said in some cases participants could be required to attend appointments more than 75km away.

Another mother of two told her provider she had been left in tears at the supermarket because she was unable to pay for her groceries, according to Mission Australia’s submission. Providers have previously warned they were referring clients to food banks due to payment suspensions.

The Brotherhood of Laurence submission noted a departmental technical glitch had led to increased payment suspensions in November, while there were “countless examples” of Centrelink booking appointments at short notice, leading to potential payment suspensions.

The majority of the more than 60 submissions called for the program to be decoupled from the government’s new welfare compliance regime. Many also argued the program should be made voluntary.

Some providers did praise the aims of the program, which is designed to get parents ready to enter employment when their children reach school age.

The Department of Jobs and Small Business did not respond to a request for comment before deadline.

The department will appear before the inquiry on Wednesday.