The cost of a child is not just about the size of a parent’s wallet

Donald Hirsch presents research into the true cost of a child and whether state benefits are enough to help low income families meet the cost. It found that on average it costs about £80,000 to bring a child up to age 18 before paying for childcare, but that working families requiring full-time childcare would require an additional £60,000 for this purpose. The bad news is that there has been a fall in the adequacy of basic benefits, making it more difficult for low-income families.