Newstart single mums in distress: study

Some single mothers who were moved onto the Newstart allowance have been forced to skip meals and medical appointments for their children, a survey says.

Thousands of single mums were moved onto the Newstart allowance under the previous Labor government, with many of them now between $60 to $160 worse off a week since the January 2013 decision.

National parent advocacy group The Parenthood surveyed 550 of them and found hundreds have been struggling to meet basic costs for their families, such as groceries and out-of-school activities.

More than half of the respondents in the survey said their child was suffering social or emotional distress due to the cuts, and their own mental health was also in decline.

More than a quarter said their child missed a medical appointment because they couldn't afford it.

Some parents said they were forced to skip meals, while others said they've been forced to seek charity for food and housing.

The Parenthood founder Fiona Sugden said the situation was grim for many single mums.

"It's not right that the poorest parents in our society have to have their livelihoods made a whole lot harder," she told AAP on Wednesday.

The group is calling for the government to increase payments to single parents and exempt them from a planned overhaul of the welfare payments system, as foreshadowed by the federal government.

Social Services Minister Kevin Andrews has commissioned a review of the welfare payments system and has signalled Newstart and disability pension recipients are on the hit list.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten in January issued a mea culpa to single mums, admitting Labor slugged single parents too hard with its decision.