21,200 children in Camden could be hit by tax credit cuts
Up 21,200 children in Camden could be directly affected by Government plans to cut tax credits. The attack on child tax credit forms part of plans to cut £12bn from the welfare budget. In total, the cuts could hit the incomes of 10,600 families in receipt of tax credits in Camden, the vast majority of whom are in work. By targeting working families it was clear the Chancellor is “intent on targeting the poorest in our community and making their life even more difficult.
Research from Barnardo’s found that more than 7.5 million children (50 per cent) in Britain rely on tax credits, with many of these in ‘in-work’ families. In Camden alone there are 10,600 families with children relying on tax credit income top-ups to make ends meet. Of these 10,600 families the vast majority, 59%, are working families who could now see a significant reduction in their income.
These savage cuts to tax credits will be a massive worry for the thousands of families in Camden] who are affected. Clearly the Chancellor is intent on targeting the poorest in our community and making their life even more difficult.
Yes we have to balance the books but we shouldn’t be putting people in a position where they have to choose between feeding their children and paying their electricity bill. The Government should be focusing on tackling the causes of poverty, such as London’s high housing costs, instead of taking away support from those already struggling to make ends meet.
