Backing for new ‘child poverty’ campaign

The North East Child Poverty Commission is urging the Chancellor to ‘keep the lifeline’ in his upcoming Autumn Budget.

Backing the launch of a new campaign led by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF), the network is also calling on Rishi Sunak to maintain the £20 a week uplift in Universal Credit and Working Tax Credit that was introduced in March.

It says if this ends in April 2021, which is currently the case, it has the potential to cut thousands of low income families across the region adrift.

Earlier this year, analysis by think-tank IPPR indicated that the uplift has helped to prevent 100,000 children from falling into poverty as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Director of the North East Child Poverty Commission, Amanda Bailey, said: “The Chancellor did the right thing in March by investing in this important lifeline at a time of huge economic turmoil for families across the North East.

“However, it is clear there are still very rough seas ahead and taking this vital support away would cut adrift many thousands who are already struggling to stay afloat.

“The lifeline should be made permanent, and should clearly be extended to people on legacy benefits who have been left behind.

“If it isn’t, the Chancellor risks plunging many thous a n d s m o re c h i l d re n a n d young people into the grip of poverty and hardship.”

JRF’s campaign says extending the uplift to those on legacy benefits – who have not been supported by this increase to date – is important because the majority of them are disabled people, or people caring for them.