Thousands of children with life-limiting conditions are living in poverty yet their parents may be saving the state millions of pounds a year, according to MPs.

The MPs said today: “Many parents of severely disabled and terminally ill children are not able to work because of their caring responsibilities; in many cases, if this care were to be provided by the state it would cost several times the amount paid to the families in benefits.”

This is one conclusion of a major report on child poverty published by the Work & Pensions Committee. MPs say the government needs to make greater efforts to end child poverty, particularly for groups most at risk, which include disabled children and their families. 

Lizzie Chambers, Chief Executive of the Association for Children’s Palliative Care, said:

    “We welcome MPs’ recognition that looking after a child with a life-limiting or life-threatening condition can be a full-time job in itself. Such parents should not face a choice between paid work or poverty. On the contrary, as the report makes clear, they need greater financial support from the government”.  

Barbara Gelb, Chief Executive of the Association of Children’s Hospices, said,

     “Too many life-limited children and their families are living in poverty. Too many also lack the services that would make their life easier, from bereavement counselling to pain relief to end-of-life care. The government has just issued a new children’s palliative care strategy for England. The challenge now lies in getting Primary Care Trusts to release the money to make this work.”