The Manifesto for a child poverty free London

Income

The past few years have been very difficult for families living on low incomes. Going into the pandemic levels of child poverty were already very high. Then, when families were faced with sharp increases in their day-to-day expenses as a result of the pandemic; needing to buy resources to support home-learning, keeping the heating on all day and providing extra food for children who would usually get a hot lunch at school, they were pushed into deeper poverty. Due to the benefit cap, which disproportionately effects families in London, many did not receive the £20 Universal Credit increase or changes to Local Housing Allowance, that were intended to help with these additional costs.

Now, as we emerge from the pandemic, families face a new assault on their incomes in the form of the cost-of-living crisis and need help like never before. 34% of Londoners have struggled to pay their household bills in the last six months, with 13% struggling to make ends meet, going without essentials or relying on credit. It is essential that local government plays its part to relieve the extreme pressure on the budgets of low-income families with children.

Manifesto Asks: Action on Income

ASK 1: Review Council Tax Reduction/Support schemes to minimise the amount of tax paid by household with children in poverty. Reduce minimum payments for low-income and vulnerable residents in your Council Tax Reduction scheme to zero (or a minimum of 10% in the first instance) and end bailiff use against those in arrears.

ASK 2: Review Local Welfare Assistance schemes to ensure that the funds available are adequate to meet the need in your borough. Schemes should be targeted to those in most need, not come with very limiting conditions, and where possible be made available in the form of cash grants rather than loans or vouchers.

ASK 3: Actively promote awareness and uptake of Council Tax Support/Reduction and Local Welfare Assistance schemes among vulnerable or protected groups, including those from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, those whose first language is not English and households in which someone is disabled.