Mothers

Mothers are the primary carers everywhere in the world. Caring for children, sick, disabled and elderly people is work vital to society.

Carers are impoverished. Income Support is being abolished. Child Benefit, society’s commitment to children, is no longer universal. Carer’s Allowance is insultingly low and most carers don’t even qualify. 200,000 care workers are denied the minimum wage.

When mothers are impoverished, children suffer: hunger, ill-health, and more often taken into care.

Petition to the US Congress: End poverty of mothers & children. Recognize caregiving work. Support the WORK and the RISE Acts.

For immediate release………

Background

In 1911 welfare (“the mothers’ pension”) was introduced to enable mothers without income to keep their children.

In 1959 welfare was to "make it possible for a mother to choose between staying at home to care for her children and taking a job."

WHEREAS 21.6% of US children live in poverty, more than in any other major industrialized country; and

WHEREAS mothers are the primary caregivers everywhere in the world, working to ensure the survival and wellbeing of children, families and communities; and

WHEREAS instead of recognition and support, mothers (and others with primary care responsibilities) are deprived of income and resources for this work; and

WHEREAS since Welfare Reform (TANF) was introduced in 1996, mothers must do unpaid work to ‘earn’ their benefits (Workfare); and