Child Benefit Levels May Rise
Benefit levels for larger families may be raised
7th August 2006
Child benefit may be heading for an overhaul as part of the government's pledge to eliminate child poverty, with levels for all children being equalized.
Currently, child benefit is paid at the rate of £17 a week for the first child in a family, and £11.40 each for any subsequent children. With research showing, unsurprisingly, that it tends to be larger families who struggle most to make ends meet, poverty campaigners say that this is an anomaly with no evidence to support the idea that second or third children are cheaper to support than a first.
The government is said to be sympathetic to the idea, which would cost around £1.5bn but benefit over 5 million children.
Read More: Money Guardian : Child benefit level may be raised as part of anti-poverty measures
Home - General Finance - Family Finances
