Rising Child Poverty in Sefton Prompts a Rethink on Child Benefits Cap

A proposal to align Sefton Council behind the drive to restore child benefits to larger families will be debated at the September full Sefton Council meeting this week. Child poverty has increased over the last 5 years by 17% in Sefton as families take the brunt of the cost of living crisis. However, families with more than two children receive no child tax credit or universal credit for a third child.
42% of families with three or more children are currently thought to live in relative poverty. 

Despite all this both Labour and Conservative parties are pledged to go into the next election retaining the cap. Child poverty action groups and welfare experts have expressed concern. Cllr. Lloyd-Johnson (Liberal Democrat) believes that Sefton must press Westminster politicians to reverse this and allow larger families access to child tax credit. He has tabled a proposal to get a change of heart and get the Council to lobby parliament and local MPs  for a policy change.  

He describes the two child benefit cap as "economically misguided, societally damaging and immoral. "

“Everyone knows the sheer expense of bringing up children which is well documented in Sefton’s own 2022 Child Poverty Strategy .

Cllr John Pugh , the opposition leader in Sefton in backing the move adds , “ It’s a basic principle of the welfare state that we support each other in the tougher moments of life. With the birth rate across Europe falling what sense is there in withholding support for larger families and ensuring children born into them have a rougher time ?  A Sefton that intends to fight poverty must do what it can to prompt a re-think at the highest level.”