FAMILIES, workers and pensioners are set to benefit as the Government’s next wave of cost of living action comes into force, says Warrington North MP Charlotte Nichols.
The second wave of the Government’s cost of living measures came into force this week, benefitting families, workers and pensioners up and down the country.
As the period of international instability continues, the Prime Minister is working with allies in a continued push to de-escalate the conflict in the Middle East and bring down pressure on prices.
And at home, this Government is focused on supporting families and easing the cost of living, putting the British people first with new policies aimed at getting money back into people’s pockets.
The following Government measures will come into force this week:
• The two-child limit will be removed – a move that is expected to benefit 1,849 children in Warrington North, and lift 450,000 children out of poverty across the country
• The state pension will be increased by 4.8% – reaching up to £241.30 per week for 1,383,000 pensioners in the North West (an increase of up to £575 a year)
• Workers will get Statutory Sick Pay rights from day one of employment
• Workers will also get day one entitlement to paternity leave and unpaid parental leave
• Universal Credit standard allowances will increase by 2.3% more than inflation – benefitting 1,093,000 in the North West
The measures follow a raft of other policies coming into force on 1st April.
They include an average cut to energy bills of £117 a year, an increase to the National Living Wage to benefit 330,000 workers in the North West with a £900 pay rise, a boost to the National Minimum Wage of £1,500 for over 200,000 young workers across the country and the start of the £1 billion Crisis & Resilience Fund to support vulnerable households with things like heating oil.
Ms Nichols said: “I know the cost of living pressures that my constituents face and the impact on their family finances. They need a government that will support them.
“These measures show how determined we are to do just that. These changes will give families, workers and pensioners more money in their pocket.
“Going forward, there is absolutely more that we need to do to support hard-working families. Whilst the conflict in the Middle East is adding more uncertainty to this situation, the government has been clear that it is ready to support households if there is a significant increase in energy bills, as they already have done for homes dependent on heating oil.”
