NWCI calls on Government once again to protect child benefit payments

Published: Tuesday, June 30, 2009

The NWCI completely opposes any changes or cuts to, or means-testing of Child Benefit in the up-coming report from An Bord Snip Nua to the Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan TD.

The NWCI is making this statement in response to several reports in the media this week on potential cuts or changes to Child Benefit which are likely to be proposed by An Bord Snip Nua over the coming days. The NWCI advocates that Child Benefit be kept as a universal payment paid to the mother for all children, as it is the only payment that automatically goes directly to the mother in the family. This payment has a significant positive impact on mothers as it is critical to contributing to the cost of rearing children.

The NWCI believes there are clear fundamental arguments from a feminist and equality perspective as to why Child Benefit should remain a universal payment and at current levels in recessionary times;

Child Benefit is universal and paid directly to the mother and is therefore not subject to the discriminatory nature of the Irish social welfare system which continues to be characterised by the male breadwinner model.

It cannot be assumed that income is shared equally within households, nor that there are equal spending patterns in families therefore the current payment structure is fundamental to ensuring the payment is spent on the well being and care of the child.

In the absence of government subsidies to pay for childcare and given the abolition of the Early Years Payment, Child Benefit is the only payment to parents to assist with childcare costs. Support for childcare costs is critical for women to make independent choices with regard to participation in all aspects of society.

Child Benefit was specifically increased to compensate mothers who stayed out of paid employment to care for their children. In the absence of any recognition for mothers who decide to care for their children at home Child Benefit is the only recognition of care for children in the home.

In February 2009, the NWCI surveyed its members on 'The importance of Child benefit for Parents' and the impact of further cuts or reductions. The results were quite severe in terms of the critical importance that parents are now placing on child benefit in this recession with 94.9% highlighting this importance. 45% of respondents said that it would be a 'financial disaster' for their families if Child Benefit was to be cut in the Budget. 66.6% of respondents said that Child Benefit is currently a 'critical part' of family income.

The National Women's Council fears that any such cuts would have a serious negative impact on the lives of women and children throughout the country and once again calls on the Government to protect all payments to parents, particularly in these economically difficult times.