MIN WAGE FAMILIES’ HELL LIFE

Couple & two kids left £50 a week short

THE minimum wage leaves parents £49 a week short of being able to provide their family with a basic standard of living, a charity warned.

The Child Poverty Action Group is calling for an increase in the “National Living Wage” to allow families to have an acceptable lifestyle.

Its Cost Of A Child report showed an 11% weekly shortfall for a couple raising two children when they are aged three and seven.

Lone parents fall 20% short each week of being able to provide a level of living for their children defined as acceptable by public opinion.

The charity blamed freezes on benefits and tax-credits, the Bedroom Tax, the roll-out of Universal Credit and rising prices for hitting “family budgets hard”.

The charity’s chief executive Alison Garnham said: “There is strong public support for Government topping up the wages of low-paid parents – and investing in children is the best long-term investment we can make.

“By using the forthcoming Budget to unfreeze benefits and restore work allowances, the Government can take steps towards making work really pay.”

The research said gains from increased minimum wages were offset by a freeze in tax credit support.

A Government spokeswoman said fewer people are living in absolute poverty and ministers are committed to giving every child the best chance.

She added: “The employment rate is at a nearrecord high and the National Living Wage has delivered the highest pay increase for the lowest paid in 20 years, worth £2,000 extra per year for a full-time worker.”

Government should unfreeze benefits and restore work allowances ALISON GARNHAM CHILD POVERTY ACTION GROUP