NEW MEASURES TO TACKLE CHILD POVERTY IN DERBY

FROM today, low income families in Derby will be eligible for additional financial assistance. This measure was announced in last year’s budget.

New rules around Housing and Council Tax Benefits will mean that families earning a low wage will be better off by, on average, £20 a week.

New Government policy means that income from Child Benefit will no longer be taken into account when calculating entitlement to Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. This will mean more money for families already getting these benefits and other low income families becoming eligible for the first time.

Both Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit can be claimed by people who are working and this change will be an extra incentive to getting back to work.

The Child Benefit disregard for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit is one of a series of measures taken since the 2007 Budget to lift more children out of poverty.

I am calling on Derby City Council to launch a publicity campaign to make sure local people know about this rule change. I want the council to make sure that families are made aware of this extra help

Labour is committed to eradicating child poverty by 2020 and this extra cash is a practical way to reduce child poverty and ensure the benefits from working are even stronger.