‘CRUEL’ CUTS TARGET KIDS
Hitting bereaved ‘is new Tory low’
CONTROVERSIAL welfare cuts that will hit bereaved children have been attacked as “a new low” from the Tories.
The move will see families lose bereavement payments 18 months after a parent has died. Previously, they would get financial help until a child turned 18.
It means youngsters with a terminally ill parent who dies this weekend will receive tens of thousands less than a child whose parent died the week before.
PM Theresa May yesterday said the changes were “fair”, prompting a furious response from Labour.
Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Debbie Abrahams said: “These cruel cuts really are a new low for this Tory Government. If the Prime Minister really wants to help those struggling to manage then she must ditch these callous reforms, instead of defending them.”
Ms Abrahams said the cut “to vital financial support... will only compound the grief that they’re experiencing”.
Speaking on a trip to the Middle East, Theresa May said it was right to slash payments to children who have lost a parent, because it is good value for other taxpayers. “We need to ensure we have a system which is fair to people who require that help and support,” the PM said. “The aim of the new payment is to ensure that it covers when it’s most needed.” A raft of welfare cuts come into force this week including a reduction in payments to many disabled people, and an end to extra child benefit payments to families who have a third child. Meanwhile, nursery providers warned the Tories risked breaking their manifesto pledge of 30 hours of free childcare because of threats to funding.