30 Dec 2018

Child Poverty group wants tax credit for all low income families

5:10 pm on 30 December 2018

A group campaigning against child poverty says people in jobs that take a break during the holidays are missing out on a desperately needed tax credit.

The credit is given to sole-parents who work more than 20-hours a week, or households where two parents work more than 30 hours.

However, people who are only contracted for part of the year, such as teacher's aides, miss out on the credit, as well as their pay, during the holiday breaks.

Child Poverty Action Group spokesperson Lisa Woods said that's unfair and the $72 credit should go to all low-income families.

"What we see is that many of the families under the most financial pressure, while eligible for Working for Families, miss out on a payment worth $72.50 a week because they don't meet a certain criteria, and we think this just doesn't make sense."

Ms Woods said beneficiaries who don't work should also receive the tax credit.

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