Lone parents will lose up to €200 per week because of cuts in their rent allowance and the payment for one-parent families. Lone parents returning to work will no longer receive half of the one-parent family payment. That is a cut of at least €141 per week. Low income couples are also hit. The partner or spouse of someone in full-time employment will no longer be able to claim rent allowance. Those returning to education through the commendable back to education scheme will be hit by the increase from six to 15 months in the length of time one must spend on social welfare before receiving the weekly allowance of €124.80. That means the back to education scheme has basically been dismantled.