Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) welcomes the National Party s announcement that it will keep Working for Families (WFF). The group says that all families, including those on high incomes, deserve recognition for the costs of raising children.

Press release: CPAG welcomes improved security for family incomes

Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) welcomes the National Party s announcement that it will keep Working for Families (WFF). The group says that all families, including those on high incomes, deserve recognition for the costs of raising children.

National has acknowledged that even higher-income families with children are struggling and need the extra money provided by WFF. John Key mentioned the need for families to have certainty. However when middle- and low-income working families lose their jobs, they may also lose a significant slice of their family assistance, should they need to access a benefit.

CPAG challenges the National Party to combine all parts of family income assistance, including the controversial In-Work Tax Credit, into a single Family Tax Credit for all low-income families.

The group questions why part of WFF goes to families on high incomes while the poorest families in the country, who are struggling to feed their children, miss out on $60 per week. If high-income families receive this assistance towards the cost of raising children then CPAG argues the poorest should as well.

If all family income assistance is joined up, National will have to plan to spend another $500 million. But this spending would be targeted to those who need it most, that is to the 200,000 or so children who currently do not benefit from the $60 or more of the In Work Tax Credit.

It would also bring New Zealand s family assistance programme more into line with Australia s. Family assistance in Australia is more comprehensive and generous, and does not exclude the lowest-income families from any part of it.

ENDS

© Scoop Media