Alison McGovern: We must support parents who work hard for a living

Mar 7 2012 Bromborough and Bebington News

IT’S so important that we back families who work hard.

But I fear that couples could suffer as a result of the new rules for working Tax Credit which take effect from this April.

Couples with children may face a change in their tax credits requiring them to work up to eight extra hours a week to continue to qualify for tax credits worth the best part of £4,000.

Currently couples have to work at least sixteen hours a week between both parents but from this April they will have to increase their working hours to at least 24 hours or they will lose their whole entitlement to Working Tax Credits.

Usdaw – the shop workers union – informs me that in my constituency 135 couples with 270 children will be affected.

I feel much sympathy for these hardworking families who frankly deserve better than the burden which this government are lumbering them with.

This comes at a time when the job market is especially tough and the timing of these new rules is all wrong.

Tax credit provides valuable help and support to hardworking parents with children and making it more difficult to claim it is in my view completely the wrong decision.

I have expressed my strong disagreement with Tory Minster Maria Miller previously in my column when she stated that there wasn’t a shortage of jobs here on Wirral, and this again shows that the Government don’t realise the struggle people face in such a very difficult time for employment.

It’s time we supported parents who work hard for a living.

Finally, due to a Royal engagement now taking place in shadow minister for older people Liz Kendall’s Leicester constituency the care meeting featured in last week’s column has had to be moved from March 8 to March 15 and will now take place in New Ferry Village Hall commencing at 6.30pm.