Autumn Budget lifeline for children in poverty

The Salvation Army welcomes the Government’s decision to end the two-child benefit cap in today’s Autumn Budget: a change the church and charity has long campaigned for. 

However, The Salvation Army warns that the Chancellor’s failure to also lift the freeze on housing benefit means thousands of families are still at risk of homelessness.

Major David Betteridge, Director of Family Ministries at The Salvation Army, said:

“Scrapping the two-child benefit limit, which denied 1.7 million children support simply because of their family size, demonstrates real intent to fight poverty and give every child a fair chance to thrive.

“However, the Government’s refusal to also lift the housing benefit freeze in the Autumn Budget means its lifeline for vulnerable families has come up short. With child homelessness at a record high, thousands more are still being put at risk of losing their homes.

“Across the country, Salvation Army officers, staff and volunteers have been stepping in where the welfare system has failed families struggling with poverty, homelessness and debt. While we recognise that the Government is operating under immense economic pressure, and the majority of people are feeling the financial strain right now, we believe those who have the least money should not be carrying the greatest burden.”

The Salvation Army continues to campaign for the Government to tackle poverty and homelessness by:

• Reversing the freeze on the value of Local Housing Allowance rates to enable people claiming Universal Credit or housing benefit to afford to rent at least three in every ten of the most affordable properties in any given area.  
• Addressing the shortage of affordable housing, especially social housing so that people on low incomes who are trapped in unsuitable, temporary accommodation can afford a stable home.
• Introducing an Essentials Guarantee within Universal Credit, which means the basic rate of benefits at least covers life’s essentials and that support can never be pulled below that level.
• Removing the five-week wait for the first Universal Credit payment for new claimants.