Recent research has indicated that a family with two children will receive £6.35 less a week by 2016/17 while by the time the next General Election rolls around in 2020, these families will be down £9.05 a week.
Further to this, the Eroding Child Benefit Report, which was published today,estimated that these households will lose out on approximately £2,017.60 over a five-year-period.
Thus far, child benefit was frozen in the periods spanning 2011/2012 and 2013/2014 while it was capped at 1% for a further two years between 2014 and 2016.
According to the Trade Union Congress, which represents the majority of trade unions in England and Wales, this freeze is likely to continue until the lead-up to the next General Election.
The benefit, which was initially frozen in 2011, was described by David Cameron as ‘one of the most important benefits there is’ and the Prime Minister has denied any plans to cut it.
However, fears that the Government may continue to freeze the benefit coincides with concerns that planned cuts in tax credits will see an increase in child poverty.
