More babies are at risk of being born into poverty , a charity says. A report by Family Action warns that new parents and babies will bear the brunt of cuts to benefits and tax credit support to families. The charity, which works with 45,000 vulnerable families a year, estimates that at least a million of the poorest families will lose one or more of these benefits. The charity is warning that affected families may use doorstep lenders to help plug the holes in their finances.
Analysis for the charity in its report Born Broke suggests the poorest families stand to lose £1,735 in pregnancy support and help for new babies. Middle income families will lose thousands of pounds more when losses from changes to the tax credit income disregard and childcare costs are taken into account.
Family Action chief executive Helen Dent said: "The loss of these grants could be dire for many families and may force them into the arms of doorstep lenders. We know from speaking to parents here that this is an option they'd consider. That or their babies will simply have to go without.These forgotten families and their children will be counting the cost of austerity.Many parents will be hit hard by measures which will disadvantage new babies at birth."
Ms Dent added that vulnerable mothers would struggle to maintain a healthy diet during pregnancy and that low income families would find it tough to meet the needs of their newborn children.
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