Welcome! EVOC thinkSpace on #WelfareReform

W RNING PROJECT thinkSpace What are the biggest impacts of welfare reform on families with children?

Anlaysis Opportunities to influence PressBriefingsSeminars Early Warning System Frontline workers CPAG advice line CPAG training and events Longitudinal study

Pregnancy benefits Health in pregnancy grant £190 Sure start maternity grant only available for first child £500

Child Benefit Frozen Reduced earners between £50-60k Removed from earners above £60k

Child tax credit Baby element removed in 1 st year £545 Claim within 1 month Withdrawn from middle income families

Working families Max childcare costs reduced from 80-70% Increase in hours requirement for couples hours per week £3870 per year Max child care costs 85% No minimum hours for childcare Claimant commitment

Families without work Benefit cap - £500 per week Lone parent claim jobseeker allowance when child turns 5 instead of income support Sanctions Claimant commitment

Families with disabled adult Transfer from incapacity benefit to employment and support allowance Disability living allowance replaced by personal independence payments 3 month waiting period before additional element can be paid Only one additional element per couple Disabled carers lose out

Families with disabled child Disabled child element of universal credit paid at 2 rates Lower rate is £125 less per month than equivalent amount under child tax credit at present

Housing costs Social tenants bedroom tax Private tenants maximum allowance Owner occupiers help with mortgage interest cut

Universal Credit Paid monthly Monthly assessment period All overpayments are recoverable Online claims Lower rate paid to families where parent/s under 25

Rates of child poverty Scotland / Edinburgh Morningside Gorgie / Sighthill

Despite UK Govt’s obligation to eradicate child poverty by 2020, the future looks bleak (projected child poverty is the red line). This is largely the result of ongoing tax and social security reform (21%) children living in poverty (2010/11after housing costs – 17% or before housing costs) some children at particular risk −families affected by disability -one parent families -families without paid work affects families across Scotland, but concentration and nature varies −ECP child poverty map of Scotland

Lower Birth Weight Chronic Ill Health as Toddlers Lower Educational Attainment Risk of Accidental Injury Impact of poverty on child wellbeing

What needs to happen? UK: rethink tax, benefit and labour market policies to strike a better balance between poverty eradication and human rights on one side and economic growth on the other.

What needs to happen? Scotland: Ensure Scottish Welfare Fund is available to families who need it Invest in advice and information Consider socio-economic implications of all decisions

What needs to happen? Locally: Ensure child poverty and underlying socio- economic determinants are considered by service planners (SHANARRI) Ensure child care is available, affordable, accessible and flexible Remove obstacles to education for children from families at risk of poverty

Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland 94 Duke Street, Glasgow G4 0UW Tel: Mob:

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