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What is the evidence on the impact of the benefit cap on children and families in poverty? In particular, how do high housing costs affect experiences of the cap and people's ability to escape it? And why is it so important that the government scraps the policy?

In advance of the autumn Budget on 30 October, CPAG submitted evidence to the government on the steps needed to reduce child poverty.

This briefing shows how the benefit cap is contributing to homelessness, as families are trapped in refuges and other forms of temporary accommodation and are unable to move on to secure and affordable homes.

'Too many parents have got stuck on benefits or in precarious, low-paid jobs with only quick-fire jobcentre appointments and no real support to get work that pays. A serious plan that tackles the obstacles for would-be workers is welcome. A high-quality employment support service involving local authorities, tailored advice and skills training is long overdue as is a childcare programme that provides an affordable place for every parent that needs one but we hope that childcare will be available to cover training periods for parents who need to skill up in order to get a job with prospects.'

In line with inflation, today benefits are being uprated by 6.7 per cent. For the first time in four years, the local housing allowance has gone up, improving housing support for many private renters. But one group will not see any improvement in support at all: around 77,000 families are affected by the ‘benefit cap'.

This briefing outlines the barriers parents who are preparing for work can experience when trying to access childcare in England, using evidence from CPAG’s project work.

Our pre-Budget briefing details how best to invest financial support in children to reduce child poverty and give every child the chance to fulfil their potential.

There are over four million children now living in poverty in the UK. We set out what the government needs to do at the next Budget to tackle poverty.

The cost of raising a child to age 18 is £166,000 for a couple and £220,000 for a lone parent.

Potential second earners in couple families, usually mothers, face high barriers to employment. Mothers typically face more barriers to work than fathers in couples, particularly because of issues relating to childcare and time spent out of the labour market due to caring responsibilities. To evaluate barriers to work faced by this group and identify solutions to these barriers, Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) designed and delivered the Your Work Your Way project – an employment support scheme that worked with 70 potential second earners in couples.