News and blogs

News

We're recruiting a personal support coach

28 July 2021

Child Poverty Action Group are looking for an experienced Employment Support Coach in Taunton to support parents into work or training as part of our Your Work Your Way project. Your Work Your Way researches the barriers to work for potential second earners in couples, and best practice at supporting them. Our coaches work with an experienced Welfare Rights Advisor to recruit and support 25 clients in each area over the course of the year.

News UK England

Supreme Court decision on two-child limit

09 July 2021

A hugely disappointing judgment which fails to give any meaningful recognition to the reality of the policy on the ground and its desperately unfair impact on children.

Legal News Tax credits Two child limit UK Universal credit

Disability Rights Handbook on AskCPAG

14 April 2021

We are delighted to announce the launch of a new digital version of the Disability Rights Handbook, in partnership with Disability Rights UK.

Disability benefits News PIP UK Universal credit

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Press releases

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Official figures: number of families affected by two-child limit reaches 318,000

15 July 2021

Official figures out today show the number of families affected by the two-child limit in universal credit and tax credits jumped by 67,000 in the year to April 2021 to reach 318,000. 1.1 million children are now affected by the policy, up from 900,000 in April 2020.

Benefit levels Child poverty statistics Children’s benefits Press release Tax credits Two child limit UK Universal credit

Statement on Supreme Court decision on two-child limit

09 July 2021

Commenting on today’s Supreme Court decision not to allow an appeal on the two-child limit brought by two lone mothers and their children, Carla Clarke, Head of Strategic Litigation at Child Poverty Action Group, which represented the mothers and children, said: "This is a hugely disappointing judgment which fails to give any meaningful recognition to the reality of the policy on the ground and its desperately unfair impact on children."

Legal Press release Tax credits Two child limit UK Universal credit

Refugee wins legal challenge to HMRC's refusal to accept backdated child tax credit claim for period since asylum claim

06 July 2021

High Court rules claimant not barred from making a claim for backdated child tax credits following the success of his asylum claim.

Press release UK

Blogs

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The problem with the ‘grace period’

21 September 2021

The number of families affected by the government’s benefit cap stood at 187,000 in May 2021. These families are living on less than what they need because they are not in work or not considered to be working enough. On average, they are losing out on £238 per month.

Benefit cap Benefit levels Blog Coronavirus UK

Back to school – supporting pupils from low-income families in England

01 September 2021

For many pupils, families and school staff, excitement has been building for the start of the new school year. However, for some families experiencing poverty, this can be a time of anxiety. A time of increased costs as uniforms, PE kits, travel cards and stationery are needed. But there are some straightforward steps that schools can take to ensure that all families and children get off to a great start.

Blog Cost of the school day Costs and spending Education Free school meals UK England

Life in the pandemic

27 August 2021

Hello. My name is Jack. I’m 16 and I live in West Yorkshire. I’m the youngest of three sons. I have two older brothers aged 22 and 24, both of whom have moved out, so it’s just me and my Mom at home. I’m her young carer. She has been disabled since 2011, and we live off her disability benefits. This is an account of how I’ve been coping during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Blog Coronavirus Education UK

Contact us

Child Poverty Action Group is a centre of expertise and campaigning on child poverty, welfare rights, and related issues such as fair pay, childcare, benefits and tax credits. Our spokespeople regularly feature on television, radio and in print media.

Contact

Journalists can contact our press officer, Jane Ahrends, or the out-of-hours duty contact on:

020 7812 5216 (office hours)

07816 909302 (24 hour)

email: [email protected]

Looking for a contact in Scotland? Visit our Scotland media page.

Press releases

CPAG regularly puts out press statements on the publication of its own policy and research, and in reaction to other events and news stories related to our work. See our press releases.

Expert information

CPAG can help journalists find information for child poverty related stories. See some key facts and figures.

We may also be able to arrange for you to speak with one of our policy or welfare rights experts for more detailed enquiries.

Case study advice

CPAG can provide advice to journalists on finding case studies, but is rarely able to directly provide case studies.

We encourage journalists in their use of case studies to show sensitivity towards parents who wish to protect their children from the stigma of being labelled as in ‘poverty’ and associated risks such as bullying.

End Child Poverty

CPAG is the host organisation for the campaign to End Child Poverty - a coalition of 150 organisations from civic society including children’s charities, child welfare organisations, social justice groups, faith groups, trade unions and others, united in our vision of a UK free of child poverty.

Our press officer also handles queries on behalf of End Child Poverty and we can provide End Child Poverty spokespeople. Visit the End Child Poverty website.