USDAW SUPPORTING PARENTS & CARERS CAMPAIGN SPOTLIGHT DAY 3 JUNE 2009

Steve Ladyman MP and Usdaw help Working Parents Claim the Benefits they are Due

South Thanet MP, Stephen Ladyman, today gave support to the shopworkers’ union Usdaw’s national spotlight day to highlight the help available to working parents.

Steve also renewed his support of the government’s pledge to end child poverty by 2020.

Steve said: ‘This Labour government has put in place a number of measures to support working parents. I want to make sure that local families have all the information they need to claim what are entitled to, particularly in these tough economic times.

I am also pleased to give my personal commitment to the pledge to end child poverty by 2020. The recession will make this goal harder to achieve, but helping parents back to work and giving them practical and financial support can be the only way we can build on the 600,000 children lifted out of relative poverty since 1997’.

John Hannett, Usdaw’s General Secretary, is delighted with Steve’s support;

‘I know that because of the global recession many Usdaw members are worried about money, as are millions of low paid families. Working parents are particularly concerned about their ability to pay the bills, take their planned maternity or paternity leave, and the quality of their family life.

That is why we are holding our national campaign spotlight day’.

Usdaw have produced information leaflets for working parents on:

Child Benefit
Tax Credits
£500 Sure Start Maternity Grant
£190 Health in Pregnancy Grant
Child Trust Fund
Help with NHS health cost
Housing and council tax benefits

Download a copy from http://www.usdaw.org.uk/ or contact Steve Ladyman’s office on 01843 852696