CPAG’s 2026 pre-Budget briefing

  • Reducing child poverty improves living standards overnight, is a catalyst for economic growth and decreases demand on public services. It must be a priority for this Budget.
  • Social security acts as a foundation block families can build healthy and productive lives for their children upon. Investing in children through social security is highly beneficial for a variety of wider educational, economic and health measures, including lowering the long-term NEET rate.
  • The best way to provide cost-of-living support to families is through investing in child-related benefits. Poverty rates are highest for households with children, and the social security system is an effective and tested mechanism for delivering support. Government should avoid the mistakes of previous governments by providing support that is proportional to household size, not flat-rate payments.
  • Investing in child benefit would help many low- and middle-income families, including those struggling with cost-of-living. Increasing child benefit by £10 a week would reduce child poverty by 400,000, building on previous policies announced during this parliament.
  • Further investment in childcare targeted towards low-income families is necessary.