Working families to receive more government support

03/11/2009

New rules surrounding housing and council tax benefits will ensure working families are £20 better off each week, the government has announced.

According to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), child benefit income will not be calculated when housing and council tax benefits are being worked out.

The change will see more families receiving access to the entitlement and more money for households already benefiting from this fund, the tax authority explained.

Yvette Cooper, secretary of state for the department, said: "We want to do more to help families who are working hard to get by during the recession. Already tax credits make sure families are better off in work, but this extra cash is a practical way to make sure the benefits from working are even stronger.

"And it will help cut child poverty too," she added.

The average amount of housing benefit available is £80 per week while the average council tax benefit is £15 a week.

Government forecasts predict that the changes will see an estimated 500,000 children removed from poverty.

Tags; Housing Debt and Bills, Young Family Finances,

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