Action for Children responds to the Resolution Foundation’s Living Standards Survey 2022

Imran Hussain, director of policy and campaigns at Action for Children, said:

‘The likely fall-out of the Ukraine conflict with even higher energy bills and inflation rates not seen for a generation is a double blow for low-income families, already locked in a crippling cost of living crisis.

‘At the end of last year, many of the families we help lost £1,000 a year in Universal Credit. These families were already facing an extra £700 a year on energy bills, but it now looks likely these will rise further, just as real incomes nose-dive. We’re going to see more children going hungry as parents struggle to make ends meet.

‘The projections on child poverty are chilling. The government needs a clear plan to reduce child poverty and it should start by increasing benefits, particularly the child element of Universal Credit. This would cushion families from the increased costs they are going to face in the months ahead.’

ENDS

Media contact:

Huw Beale, Action for Children – 07718 114 038 / [email protected]

Out of hours – 07802 806 679 / [email protected]

NOTES TO EDITORS

Action for Children protects and supports vulnerable children and young people by providing practical and emotional care and support, ensuring their voices are heard and campaigning to bring lasting improvements to their lives. With 512 services across the UK, in schools and online, in 2020/21 we helped 604,885 children, young people and families. actionforchildren.org.uk