UNISON is calling on chancellor George Osborne to reverse changes to family tax credits which will cost many working couples £3,870 a year, when he announces his budget next Wednesday (21 March).
Changes are due to come into force on 6 April. At the moment, couples who work 16 hours a week or more and earn less than £17,700 a year, between them, receive working families tax credit worth £3,870 a year. From next month they will need to work at least 24 hours a week between them.
This will mean all couples working between 16 and 24 hours a week will lose out – even though the need to work a minimum number of hours will be abolished altogether when the planned new universal credit is introduced between 2013 and 2014.
UNISON is campaigning for the changes to be reversed in the 21 March budget and any changes until universal credit begins to be phased in. UNISON Labour Link has been working with Labour MPs against the changes.
As part of the campaign, union branches are being urged to:
- lobby your MP to put pressure on the government to reverse and delay the changes –
you can find your MP at theyworkforyou.com; - make sure members are aware of the changes;
- find case studies to show how these changes will affect families, carers, the low paid and part time workers with children;
- use these to lobby MPs;
- ask employers whether additional hours will be available for workers wishing to meet the rule change – use the information as part of your campaign.
Find out more by downloading the UNISON Million Voices briefing here
Press release: Change will hit women hard