Single parents will no longer lose their financial support just because they live with another adult, the government confirmed on Wednesday.

The council of ministers has approved a key amendment to the rules governing the single-parent family allowance. The change, brought forward by Deputy Welfare Minister Marilena Evangelou, means that the income of a partner will not be counted when assessing eligibility for the allowance, as long as the couple is not married, has not signed a cohabitation agreement, and does not have children together.

The reform overturns what Evangelou called an “anachronistic” and outdated rule that did not reflect the realities of modern family life. Until now, single parents who began living with a new partner risked losing their monthly support, even if that person had no legal or parental link to their children.

Speaking after the cabinet meeting, Evangelou said the old system had not only been unfair, but also difficult to enforce. 

“Proof of cohabitation was hard to verify in practice,” she explained.

“We have chosen not to focus on such audits in recent years, because we recognised the injustice.”

She stressed the government’s broader commitment to single-parent families, saying consultations were ongoing with the association of single-parent families to explore further changes. 

“We continue to record suggestions and examine requests for better support,” she added.

The new policy follows discussions in parliament last year. A bill submitted by Akel MPs Andreas Kavkalias, Christos Christofias, and Giorgos Koukoumas aimed to redefine what qualifies as a “single-parent family” under the law. The proposal sought to end the rule that automatically stopped the allowance when a parent moved in with someone else.

Akel MP Andreas Kavkalias, who heads the House labour committee, argued at the time that the old framework violated privacy rights and failed to protect the best interests of children. 

“This provision needed to go,” he said.

The announcement also follows a series of support measures already in place. These include access to a special electricity tariff (EAC tariff 08), a one-off payment during the festive season with fewer income checks and simpler application procedures for benefits.

“We show through our actions that we are open to dialogue and real solutions,” Evangelou said, promising more steps shortly.

The amendment is expected to come into force within the coming weeks, after administrative steps are completed.