In response to the Work and Pensions Committee report on children in poverty and No Recourse to Public Funds

The Committee today is calling for cut in safety net waiting time to support children living in poverty. The Work and Pension Committee's latest report on children in poverty highlights harmful impact of no recourse to public funds (NRPF).[1]

It also calls for parents with NRPF to be given access to the welfare system after maximum of five years.

In response to the Committee report, Bethan Lant, Praxis Training, Development and Advocacy Manager, had this to say:

“While we welcome any measures which would reduce the number of families living with No Recourse to Public Funds , five years of poverty and struggle are five years too many. At Praxis we see  families pushed to breaking point trying to make ends meet, to put food on the table for their children and keep them warm.

For many in the UK, bills and living costs are spiralling out of control. Yet families living on No Recourse to Public Funds are prevented from accessing vital support when they are facing crisis -  often while paying into the tax and National Insurance system.

A recent study by LSE shows that giving people access to public funds when they need it would result in net gains for taxpayers of £872 million over the course of 10 years. Not only does No Recourse to Public Funds inflict significant harm on people – especially families with children – it ultimately costs the public purse more than it would  to simply give people access to benefits when needed.

If the government is serious in its commitment to reduce poverty and safeguard all children, while being conscious of costs to the public purse, NRPF conditions should be scrapped entirely,  giving access to a safety net for everyone who needs it.”

Anna Berry, a member of the No Recourse to Public Funds action group at Praxis, says:

"We’re happy to see today’s recommendations for No Recourse to Public Funds to be shrunk in scope, however we’re concerned that children’s development will still be impacted dangerously long term.

Every child deserves a safety net. When you’re in absolute poverty, waiting five years until you can access any support feels like a lifetime. And Child Benefit should go to any child whose family is struggling, British or not.

Ultimately, as people who have been affected by this cruel policy, we need to see No Recourse to Public Funds rules ended, so that people can have access to a safety net and contribute to their community. If the government wants to see an end to child poverty, it should end this policy today."

[1] https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/9616/documents/162588/default/