Family Solicitors

The Citizen’s Advice Bureau (CAB) in West Devon is calling for more government support to help low-income families affected by benefit changes.

Universal Credit is a single welfare benefit payment, which by 2016 will replace six existing benefits – Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Income Support, Child Tax Credit, Housing Benefit, Income-related employment and support allowance and Working Tax Credit. Universal Credit is likely to affect around eight million households in England and Wales, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) estimates.

The government has also capped benefits at £500 per week per household, meaning families who have in the past received more from a combination of benefits will face a cut in their income.

The switch to Universal Credit is taking place more slowly than anticipated, but some claimants are already facing hardship as a result of welfare reforms, including the so-called bedroom tax applied to housing benefit claimants who have a spare bedroom. Elderly recipients of housing benefit whose families have left home and disabled claimants have particularly been affected by the bedroom tax – and a shortage of one- and two-bedroom Local Authority properties has meant claimants have not always been able to move to a smaller property.

The CAB in West Devon is also calling for free school meals for families affected by welfare reforms, as well as more financial support from government for working families. The government has already provided funding to Local Authorities to help claimants most affected by the cap on benefits and the bedroom tax.

CAB research has also shown that despite government help for working families who have to pay for childcare, many families are still struggling financially.

Mandy Kenyon from CAB in West Devon told local publisher the Okehampton Times:

“Paying for childcare is one of the biggest drains on household income and adds huge pressure on families trying to make ends meet – the cost of childcare has gone up more than 70 per cent in the past 10 years and for many parents the cost can prevent them from taking on work.

“For parents, striking the balance between holding down a job and managing family life is a big challenge. People need a system which is easy to understand, gives them support with childcare – and under which, work always pays.

“It’s vitally important to people in West Devon that these small changes are made to give working families a helping hand.”

The chief executive of CAB Gillian Guy said that paying for childcare was one of the biggest drains on household income and added huge pressure on families trying to make ends meet.

“Families with young children should not have to have a maths degree to work out whether it pays to work extra hours, “ she said.

“Simple changes to how Universal Credit operates would clear up so much of the confusion: extra support for childcare, free school meals made available to the children of all parents receiving the new single benefit – and allowing second earners to keep a larger share of their income – would better reward work and simplify matters for parents.

“Ministers are in danger of setting low-income families a parent trap – there is a risk that government reforms will work against each other and harm the very people ministers want to support,“ she added.

Duncan Lewis Family Solicitors

Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of family solicitors and can advise on matters such as children law and childcare, including children taken into Local Authority care, child contact and residence following divorce or separation and child abuse.

Duncan Lewis family solicitors can also advise on family law under UK law or Islamic law.

For expert legal advice on family and childcare matters contact Duncan Lewis family solicitors on 020 7923 4020.