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The Children’s Society says Chancellor’s help for “just about managing” families is not enough (24 November 2016)

Date: 24/11/2016
Duncan Lewis, Legal News Solicitors, The Children’s Society says Chancellor’s help for “just about managing” families is not enough

Chief Executive of The Children’s Society, Matthew Reed, has said that the Chancellor’s Budget offers only “measly morsels” for “just about managing” (JAMs) families, in light of nearly £11 billion of ongoing welfare cuts announced in 2015, which will cut support for struggling families in 2020.

“There’s been plenty of talk of helping the just-about-managing families – the JAMs – but sadly the Chancellor’s cake is half-baked,” said Mr Reed.

“Unlike last year’s Budget, he hasn’t introduced major new cuts for low-income families – but that won’t offer much comfort to millions for whom today’s announcements will have a very soggy bottom.

“Of course, the £600 million provided to undo a proportion of cuts to Universal Credit will help, although the lowest-income working families receiving the benefit will gain the least.

“So will increases to the minimum wage [help] – but these improvements are measly morsels next to the nearly £11 billion of ongoing cuts announced last year, which will cut support for struggling families in 2020.

Mr Reed said that the rising cost of living would turn the four-year benefits freeze into a major income cut by 2020.

“Cutting off child tax credit for families who have a third child – and further reductions to family support under Universal Credit – risk turning just-about-managing families into just-not-managing families.

“At this rate, despite the Chancellor’s tweaking, many low-income families are going to be much worse off by the end of the decade.

“The government is at least acknowledging that cuts to essential support for the most vulnerable families are not cost-free.

“But it must go much further – by scrapping the benefits freeze and the two-child cap, and restoring the family element of Tax Credits and original work allowances to Universal Credit – if its promise to help the JAMs is going to stick.”

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