Pre-Budget briefing for parliamentarians
As inflation remains in the double digits, families with children face another year of financial stress. 4.3 million children were in poverty before Covid and this number is projected to rise further in the future, as families experience the full effects of decade-long cuts to social security.
This is an important moment for the government to demonstrate how it will support families on a low income. Investing in social security protects those who need it most. This investment is highly cost-effective – reducing child poverty immediately and leading to improved education, employment and health outcomes, including life expectancy.
CPAG recommends the following four actions to make an immediate difference to children and families living in poverty:
- Scrap the two-child limit
- Abolish the benefit cap
- Raise child benefit by £20 a week per child
- Roll out universal free school meals across England
To tackle economic inactivity and help parents and carers into work, the government should also:
- Introduce a second earner work allowance in universal credit (UC) and provide tailored employment support
- Provide a high-quality publicly funded universal childcare system