Exempt couples from tax credit changes where one partner is disabled or a carer

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Jonathan Reynolds MP writes ahead of his Westminster Hall debate today calling for the government to protect the disabled and carers from changes to the Working Tax Credit.

When the Labour government introduced Working Tax Credits in 2003, it balanced the need to eradicate child poverty with the promotion of work. Working Tax Credits aimed to reduce poverty while ensuring families would always be better off in work. But the changes being introduced by the Conservative government impact on hard-working, low-paid workers and will risk a return to the idea that work isn't worth it.

Under the current scheme, couples can claim up to £4,000 a year through Working Tax Credits, provided they work more than 16 hours a week. But from April couples will have to work a combined total of at least 24 hours – with one partner working at least 16 hours a week – in order to qualify.

On the face of it, it may seem like a reasonable request, but it doesn't take into account modern working practices, the pressures faced by carers and the lack of available work. Quite simply, if the amount of work we demand is unrealistic, then this measure will hurt – rather than help – the most vulnerable in society.

We should not underestimate how difficult it is for families to find an additional eight hours of work at a time when there is so little work available. And as unemployment continues to rise, any moves that will make it harder to qualify for Working Tax Credit will penalise families for there not being work available.

I was initially alerted to the issue by a disabled resident, living in the Stalybridge and Hyde constituency I represent, who has been unable to work since being hit by a car 11 years ago. His wife works for 17 hours a week in a before-and-after school club. She cannot increase her hours at the school, because the club only runs for those 17 hours a week, and she would find it difficult to find a second job with hours that were flexible enough to take account of her existing employment and caring commitments. The money they receive in Working Tax Credit makes a real difference – but under the government's plans they would lose it.

In addition to the particular cases of couples where one partner is disabled or a carer, I also believe the changes will have a significant impact on the thousands of people who are employed in the retail sector. This is a sector where employees may not be able to secure additional hours and where there may be a mismatch between contracted hours and hours worked – so, in practice, employees may be working in excess of the required hours but still not qualify for Working Tax Credits.

In today's debate I will call for the government to exempt from the changes, couples where one partner is either disabled or a carer. And I will ask the government to take urgent steps to raise awareness of the changes, to enable as many employees as possible to take any steps possible to ensure they could still qualify for Working Tax Credits.

Jonathan Reynolds has been the Labour Member of Parliament for Stalybridge and Hyde since 2010. He is currently PPS to Ed Miliband.