More than 700,000 parents claiming Universal Credit will see changes before the end of this year.
An online petition calling on the UK Government to reverse Universal Credit rule changes that affect parents of young children has received more than 16,750 signatures of support and is now due an official response. The Department for Work and Pensions introduced changes to the frequency of appointments with work coaches for parents of children aged one and two-years-old in July and is set to implement further changes this Autumn for those with children up to the age of 12.
The founder of Mothers Uncovered, a creative support network for mothers, continued: “Parenting is work. The bonding time that parents spend with children is valuable. Do we think it’s right that a child as young as three should be parked in all day care and only see their parent at weekends? Top Money Stories Today DWP refers to these people as lead carers to reflect the full range of childcare arrangements. Where there is a lone parent, they will always be listed as the lead carer and for couples on Universal Credit, individuals can identify who is the lead carer.
Latest Benefits News The petition states: “Nestling quietly in Hunt's budget was a proposal that must NOT be introduced. “Parents will also need to meet with a job coach every month with no childcare provided to attend. Nurseries don't have space or staff to deal with extra children. This could devalue parent-child bonding, drive families into debt and exacerbate a mental health crisis.”