Child Poverty Rates Rise in the US

a { color: #880000 !important; background: #ffeeee !important; } Calls to Abolish Benefit Cap GrowPoverty > Social IssuesCharities are urging the UK government to abolish the benefit cap after recent statistics revealed that 123,000 households, including 302,000 children, are affected. Campaigners argue that the cap exacerbates poverty and homelessness, particularly among vulnerable groups such as single parents and domestic abuse survivors.

What's happened

Charities are urging the UK government to abolish the benefit cap after recent statistics revealed that 123,000 households, including 302,000 children, are affected. Campaigners argue that the cap exacerbates poverty and homelessness, particularly among vulnerable groups such as single parents and domestic abuse survivors.

Why it matters

What the papers say

According to Patrick Butler in The Guardian, the benefit cap has disproportionately affected single parents and domestic abuse survivors, leading to calls for its abolition. Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, emphasized the need for immediate action to address child poverty. Meanwhile, Emily Peck from Axios highlighted the broader implications of poverty in the US, noting that the expiration of the expanded child tax credit has led to a significant increase in child poverty rates. This suggests a potential parallel in the UK, where similar policy changes could alleviate poverty levels. Juliana Kaplan from Business Insider UK also pointed out that refundable tax credits have been effective in lifting millions of children out of poverty, reinforcing the argument for increased government support.

How we got here

The benefit cap was introduced in 2013 to incentivize work among low-income households. However, recent evaluations indicate it has failed to achieve its goals, leading to increased hardship for families reliant on benefits.

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