- A single-parent family rebuilding its life needs help from friends, relatives and neighbours.
- The lives of genuine single parents and “pseudo single parents” are fundamentally different, and genuine single parents need more understanding and support from society.
- The Social Welfare Department has 11 units dedicated to protecting families and children, and Hong Kong has 65 Integrated Family Service Centres and 2 Integrated Services Centres.
- A single-parent family that qualifies can claim the Single Parent Allowance in its tax return, with a deduction of HK$132,000.
In Hong Kong, divorce is a major change for many families. Between legal proceedings, money worries and the practical side of raising children, single-parent families often face several challenges at once.
Below, we explain the support services, allowances and subsidies available to single-parent families after divorce in Hong Kong.
Rebuilding family life and what “genuine single parent” means
In Hong Kong, building a new single-parent household after a marriage ends is a hard process.
A single mother needs a stable, supportive network of friends, relatives and neighbours. For example:
- A neighbour can look after the children while she deals with personal matters.
- A friend can help with housework. Small things like these are important support.
Accepting help from the people around her makes life smoother for a single mother and her children.
Understanding what “genuine single parent” means
In Hong Kong, the lives of “genuine single parents” and “pseudo single parents” are fundamentally different:
- In a genuine single-parent family, a parent looks after the children full-time because of divorce or the death of a spouse.
- A family that only feels lonely now and then because a spouse is busy at work is in a different situation.
Single-parent families face more challenges and pressure, both emotional and material, and need more understanding and support from society.
- Rebuilding your life after divorce: how to look after yourself and start again
- How divorce affects children in Hong Kong, and ways to support them
- Helping children adjust to a new family after divorce, so that children in a remarried, blended family grow up well
How do you build a stable, supportive network?
Get in touch, and a dedicated consultant will first understand your situation.
Daily life for single-parent families after divorce in Hong Kong
For single-parent families in Hong Kong, staying socially active is very important.
Joining community activities or meeting friends gives the family emotional support and helps children build social skills.
Taking children to social occasions such as birthday parties or family gatherings lets them practise interacting with others. It also helps a single parent feel the warmth and acceptance of a community.
Digital parenting in single-parent families
Single-parent families often rely on digital devices to help with childcare. For example, letting a child watch children’s programmes on a tablet can ease the load when a parent is busy.
- This is not only a stop-gap; it is part of modern life.
- Using digital tools sensibly can help a single parent manage family time and personal time better.
Rest and self-care for single parents
- Single parents in Hong Kong need to look after their own rest and health while caring for their children.
- Set aside time for self-care, such as yoga, reading or a walk on your own. These activities are very good for both mental and physical health.
- Learn to fit them in while your child is asleep or at school. This is an effective way to recover your energy and improve your quality of life.
Dating as a single parent
Single parents also have the right, and the chance, to find a new partner. Society should support and encourage them to do so when the time is right.
- Through social events or matchmaking, a single parent can meet someone who understands their situation and build a new relationship together.
- In a new relationship, open and honest communication is the key to success.
Managing health as a single parent
- For single-parent families in Hong Kong, the lack of anyone to take over when a parent falls ill is a particular challenge, so a reliable support network is very important.
- Neighbours, relatives or friends can give essential help when a parent is ill, such as looking after the children or helping with housework, so that the household keeps running.
Widening your circle of friends
- Single parents in Hong Kong should actively get in touch with other single-parent families. Joining single-parent support groups or community activities widens your social circle and helps you find friends who share your experience.
- These new “mum friends” or “dad friends” share parenting experience and are also an important source of emotional support.
Accepting society’s positive response
When single parents are open about their family situation in public, they often receive positive feedback and praise.
This kind of positive recognition builds a single parent’s confidence and sense of self-worth, and helps them face life’s challenges more positively.
- Preparing mentally for divorce, and how counselling helps mental health
- Dating after divorce: challenges, opportunities and points to watch
- How long must you wait to remarry after divorce in Hong Kong, and what is the procedure?
Overview of social support services for single-parent families in Hong Kong
The Social Welfare Department and a number of non-governmental organisations provide a range of support services for families affected by divorce.
These services help families and children deal with the emotional and legal issues that come with divorce.
They include court referrals, parenting counselling and psychological support, all aimed at easing the effects of divorce.
- The Hong Kong government provides a range of support, including financial assistance, legal advice and counselling, to help these families settle through the transition.
- Community centres and non-governmental organisations also offer many kinds of support to help single parents through everyday difficulties.
Professional services from the Social Welfare Department
The Social Welfare Department has 11 units dedicated to protecting families and children, spread across Hong Kong.
- Their services range from writing custody or guardianship reports to supervising visits between a child and the parent who does not live with them.
- To help divorced parents and the children affected, the Department also arranges casework counselling and psychoeducational activities. These aim to improve their communication and help them carry out their parental duties together.
Integrated family services from non-governmental organisations
Hong Kong has 65 Integrated Family Service Centres and 2 Integrated Services Centres, run jointly by the Social Welfare Department and non-governmental organisations.
- These centres offer full counselling and support for families facing marriage problems or divorce.
- Their services include psychoeducation and building parenting skills, to help family members deal with emotional difficulties and improve family relationships.
Special services at shared parenting support centres
The Hong Kong Catholic Marriage Advisory Council runs several shared parenting support centres. They offer divorced parents shared parenting counselling and parenting coordination, and help children keep in touch with the parent they do not live with.
Through group activities and workshops, these centres use a child-centred approach to counselling and promote the idea of shared parental responsibility, so that family members can interact in a healthy way.
Other support services in the community
Besides the services above, organisations such as the Hong Kong Family Welfare Society, the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups and St. James’ Settlement also offer services for families affected by divorce, including but not limited to:
- Community education activities
- Professional training
- Psychological support courses
- Programmes for children such as “Hand in Hand”
These services are meant to meet the full range of needs of families affected by divorce.
Together, the services provided by government departments and non-governmental organisations show the care and support Hong Kong society offers to families affected by divorce.
They do more than solve practical problems for single-parent families. They also aim to improve quality of life, so that families can rebuild a stable and harmonious life after divorce.
How can you ease the effects of divorce?
Feel free to check your situation with us.
Tax benefits for single-parent families in Hong Kong
Single-parent families in Hong Kong can claim certain tax benefits when they file their tax return, to ease the cost of raising children.
Every May, when the Inland Revenue Department issues tax returns, single parents should consider claiming the Single Parent Allowance.
The allowance recognises the financial pressure on a parent who raises children alone.
Who can claim the Single Parent Allowance, and on what conditions
The Single Parent Allowance is designed for a parent who is solely responsible for looking after a child. To claim it, you must meet the following conditions:
- You were unmarried or divorced during the tax year, and not living with a spouse.
- You received the child allowance in that tax year, which means you bear the child’s living and education costs.
How the Single Parent Allowance is worked out
When both parents claim to have brought up the same child on their own in the same tax year, the Single Parent Allowance is divided according to the period each of them brought the child up alone.
Please note
- If the parents dispute the split, the Commissioner of Inland Revenue decides in accordance with the law.
- You cannot claim the Single Parent Allowance simply because you pay for a child’s living and education costs, and looking after more than one child does not increase the allowance.
The amount of the Single Parent Allowance
For a single-parent family that qualifies, the Single Parent Allowance is a deduction of HK$132,000.
This deduction can noticeably reduce a single-parent family’s tax and gives extra financial support.
By claiming properly, a single father or mother can make better use of this tax benefit and ease the financial pressure of raising children alone.
- What to prepare for a Hong Kong divorce: documents, information and points to consider
- How to secure the best maintenance after divorce
Do you meet the conditions for the Single Parent Allowance?
If in doubt, feel free to contact our dedicated consultants.
Frequently asked questions about single-parent families after divorce in Hong Kong
Is the divorce rate in Hong Kong rising?
Yes. In recent years the divorce rate in Hong Kong has been rising, and social change and the pressures of daily life are seen as two of the main reasons.
What government support can a single-parent family get in Hong Kong after divorce?
The Hong Kong government provides several kinds of support, including Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA), single-parent family allowances, and help with housing and education.
How do I apply for custody of my child after divorce?
In Hong Kong, an application for custody after divorce usually goes through the court. The court considers many factors to make sure its decision is in the child’s best interests.
How can a single-parent family in Hong Kong get housing support after divorce?
After divorce, a single-parent family can apply for public housing or a rent subsidy to deal with its housing problem.
What education support is there for single-parent families in Hong Kong?
The Hong Kong government provides the School Textbook Assistance Scheme and student financial assistance schemes, among others, to ease the cost of education for single-parent families.
How can I make sure my child stays in touch with the other parent after divorce?
After divorce, the court may set access arrangements so that the child has regular contact and time with the parent they do not live with.
What challenges does a blended family face after divorce?
Common challenges after a blended family forms include adjusting emotionally, managing the parent-child relationship, bringing new family members together, and dealing with legal and financial matters.
