The London Child Poverty Alliance, of which 4in10 is a member, was successful in getting a letter published in the Evening Standard earlier this week in response to figures published by the Department of Work and Pensions which showed 200,000 children from poorest households are being hit by the benefit cap:

Benefits cap affects children's chances
New figures show the number of Londoners hit by the benefit cap, since it was lowered in November, has almost doubled from 8,000 to 15,000. Capped households have had their incomes slashed but most can’t work because they either have very young children, a disability or a health condition.

Even when these parents do want to work, the cost of childcare in the capital often makes it impossible and cheaper accommodation is rarely an option, given the scarcity of affordable housing in London. The benefit cap isn’t getting people into work, it is getting families into difficulty. 

With child poverty expected to rise sharply in the coming years, we urge ministers in the next Government to rethink this policy, or else risk further damaging children’s life chances.

Deborah Hargreaves, chair, London Child Poverty Alliance;

Alison Garnham, Chief Executive, Child Poverty Action Group

Laura Payne, Project Manager, 4in10 Child Poverty Network

Dalia Ben-Galim, Director of Policy, Gingerbread

June O Sullivan, Chief Executive, LEYF

Lisa Redding, Chief Executive Officer, LVSC

Alex Bax, Chair, My Fair London

Kevin Courtney, General Secretary, NUT

Chris Price, Executive Director, Pecan

Dr Caoimhe McKenna, paediatrician and member of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health’s Health Promotion Committee

Ben Reynolds, Deputy Chief Executive, Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming

Bharat Mehta, Chief Executive, Trust for London

Raji Hunjan, Chief Executive, Zacchaeus 2000 Trust

Media coverage:

Evening Standard, 6^th letter down http://www.standard.co.uk/comment/letters/es-views-juncker-s-sneer-at-english-is-misguided-and-petulant-a3534691.html

Independent news story: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/200000-children-are-being-made-poorer-by-the-benefits-cap-a7718776.html