Autumn Statement will not stop ice from cracking under struggling families

Responding to today’s statement, Child Poverty Action Group chief executive Alison Garnham said:

It’s a relief that benefits and the benefit cap will rise with inflation. But this is only the fourth time benefits have risen by inflation in the last ten years and as a result of austerity - that today the chancellor praised - there are almost 4 million kids living in poverty in the UK. Today’s package will not stop the ice from cracking under struggling families.

The flat-rate support for energy costs means families with kids will have to spend more but get proportionately less support. As a result, children will go without and government will have to accept responsibility for the consequences.

Work requirements

Lots of parents need to look after their kids or have disabilities which means they simply can’t work more hours. Forcing them to meet over-stretched work coaches won’t address barriers like childcare costs, expensive travel, and insecure work. And we’re perplexed that managed migration to universal credit will continue for families with children on ESA. If it’s too risky for everyone else then why impose it on families and kids?

Longer term:

Families are justifiably worried that winter 2023 will be at least as tough as winter 2022. For the longer term, the Government will need to move away from blunt, short-term responses towards sustained re-investment in our social security safety net, so that the living standards of children and families are never again allowed to fall as far as they have in recent years.