New research suggests that more single mothers could be at risk of later life poverty as the coronavirus crisis has left thousands of additional female employees locked out of workplace pension saving.
Now: Pensions and the Pensions Policy Institute (PPI) estimates that around 400,000 employed single mothers are unable to join workplace pension schemes.
It has also calculated that within that total, 100,000 more women across the UK are missing out on employer contributions compared to a year ago, as a direct result from the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
The annual earnings trigger at which someone is automatically enrolled into a workplace pension is £10,000 and Now: Pensions wants to see this threshold removed.
Researchers said higher levels of part-time work among single mothers, lower levels of pay and greater demands on their income are leaving many unable to save for retirement.
Those behind the findings said single mothers in part-time work earn £6,922 on average and highlighted how coronavirus has further exacerbated the inequality they face around pension saving, ahead of National Single Parents Day on Sunday, March 21.
They said that while nearly a third (31%) of employed single mothers were not reaching the £10,000 auto-enrolment threshold before the pandemic, the figure is now more than two-fifths (43%), leading around an additional 100,000 women to miss out on employer contributions.
The report also said around a quarter of single mothers have seen a reduction in earnings within the past year.
The research highlighted a recent report from Coram Family and Childcare, showing that costs have increased recently, putting further financial pressure on parents.
Samantha Gould, head of campaigns at Now: Pensions said: "It is worrying to see that single mothers' ability to save for their futures has been hugely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic with almost half now ineligible for automatic enrolment."
She added: "With research from Coram Family revealing that childcare costs have in fact increased by 4% in this same period, single mothers will be feeling the pinch the most with many choosing to stop work altogether in order to care for their children.
"This perpetuates the current savings gaps experienced by some groups in the UK which needs to be addressed."
Recent lockdowns have made it harder for single mothers to work as they juggle children's schoolwork, household chores and employment responsibilities, Now: Pensions and the PPI said.
According to The Office of National Statistics (ONS), around two-thirds (67%) of women have recently taken on additional home schooling responsibilities.
A Department for Work and Pensions spokesman said: "Our groundbreaking pension reforms, including automatic enrolment, have helped millions more women save into a pension, many for the first time, and current contribution rates have been phased in to balance bringing people into saving in a way that's affordable for both savers and employers."
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