CONTACT a Family - the only UK charity that supports families with disabled children whatever their disability - is delighted the Chancellor George Osborne decided to scrap cuts to tax credits in his spending review this autumn.
This is great news for around 150,000 working families with disabled children who were likely to be affected by this and rely on tax credits to pay for basics like food and heating.
However, other cuts to the benefits that the Government announced last summer will still go ahead and means many families with disabled children could still find themselves worse off in the longer term when Universal Credit eventually replaces tax credits. More than half of families with disabled children told us they are worried about Universal Credit and a further 40 per cent don’t know how the change to Universal Credit would affect their family.
We want to reduce any worry and confusion about benefit changes and make sure local families with disabled children get what they are entitled to. Our team of expert benefit advisErs are able to offer detailed, one to one financial advice to parent carers as well as a comprehensive benefits ‘check up’, to help families who might be missing out on vital income.
If you are a parent of a disabled child and are worried about changes to benefits please call our free helpline 0808 808 3555.
Last year, Contact a Family helped parents gain more than a million pounds in unclaimed benefits. Don’t be caught out by benefit changes.
Una Summerson
Head of Policy at Contact a Family
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here