DUNFERMLINE and West Fife MP Douglas Chapman has called on the Chancellor of the Exchequer to address the "unfairness inherent" in the UK Government’s High Income Child Benefit Charge.
The politician has highlighted "significant concerns" over how the current system penalises single-income households, where one earner who earns in excess of £50,000 is subject to the charge, but where a family whose joint earnings may exceed the £50,000 are not subject to the charge.
"I have put down an Early Day Motion at Parliament to highlight this disadvantage to single parent households or those who are widowed or bereaved and households where one parent cannot work due to their own disability, illness or mental health issue, or their child’s," he said.
"The Government cannot be allowed to ignore the actual reality of financial pressures on single-income households which are often more acute than those on dual-income households due to the limited earning potential and the fact that all bills and essentials must be covered by one income.”
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