Budget submission 2023

In our submission to the consultation on the forthcoming spring Budget, we are calling on the UK government to: 

• Invest in children by increasing social security benefits. There are almost 4 million children living in poverty in the UK so this would be a highly cost-effective investment – it reduces child poverty immediately and leads to improved education, employment and health outcomes, including life expectancy.
• Scrap the two-child limit and remove the benefit cap - this would make the most difference to children living in poverty.
• Raise child benefit by £20 a week – this would substantially reduce child poverty and help low- and middle-income families who have been struggling with the cost of living.
• Roll out universal free school meals across England – supporting pupils’ learning and attainment, and reducing the pressure on household budgets.

In addition to these four actions, which would make an immediate difference to children and families living in poverty, the government should ensure that plans to tackle economic inactivity also help parents and carers into work.

• The government should support people into work by introducing a second earner work allowance in universal credit (UC), and providing tailored employment support.
• Childcare is a significant barrier that prevents many parents and carers from working. In the long-term, the government should provide a high quality publicly funded universal childcare system. In the short term it should expand the childcare offer for 0-2 year olds, invest in extended schools and increase the generosity and flexibility of childcare support provided through UC.