Tackling child poverty when parents cannot work

The report describes the current strengths and weaknesses in policy provision to combat child poverty when parental employment is constrained and is a timely analysis given the approaching 2010 deadline for halving child poverty from 1999 levels. The analysis uses original and unique tax-benefit modelling of current provision across a range of low-paid and out-of-work family profiles.

The main contents of the report are:

• An introductory overview of the policy trade-offs involved in determining ability and inability to work;
• Analysis of current provisions for maternity and how far it protects families against child poverty;
• Analysis of the current provisions for short-term sickness and periods 'between jobs' that are relevant to most low-paid parents, particularly those with constrained employment from ill health/ disability;
• Analysis of current provisions for those parents with limitations of their capacity to work, on those with disabilities and parents who care for disabled partners/ children.

The report concludes with a series of policy recommendations and options.

This report is one of seven reports linked to the Roundup 'What will it take to end child poverty in 2020?'