Benefits

Spain partially nationalised banking giant Bankia SA after concerns about its real estate exposure in a scenario reminiscent of the Irish crisis following the 2008 implosion of Lehman Bros.

A London council is criticised after contacting housing associations in other parts of the country to see if they will take private tenants whose high rents are not covered by housing benefit.

Nearly a third of new mothers go into debt due to taking maternity leave, while one in 10 cuts short their time off to ease financial pressures, a survey suggests.

A government adviser recommends that parents of truants have their child benefit docked. Channel 4 News asks if the threat of fines for truancy actually works and speaks to a truant schoolgirl.

As George Osborne announces changes to child benefit, Channel 4 News explains what it means for you.

Chancellor George Osborne cuts the 50p rate of tax to 45p from April 2013 and announces changes to his plans to withdraw child benefit from all 40p taxpayers.

An overhaul of the benefits system risks pushing 250,000 children into poverty, warns a leading children’s charity. The changes could mean 150,000 working single mothers losing £68 a week.

Some couples will be hundreds of pounds better off if they quit their jobs and stay on benefits, Chris Grayling admits.

A childcare charity’s survey finds childcare costs up almost six per cent, as it calls on the government to scrap changes to child tax credits which it says could push some families into poverty.

Ed Miliband has warned that the so-called “squeezed middle” are set to feel the pinch even more thanks to changes in the tax and benefits system.

More than 200,000 families will lose tax credits worth almost £4,000 a year unless they significantly increase their working hours, according to figures highlighted by Labour today.

The government has overturned three of the seven amendments to its welfare bill proposed by the House of Lords last week. Further votes, including one on a benefits cap, are due later today.

With the House of Lords voting on the proposed £26,000 benefits cap, Channel 4 News looks at how the government’s plans will affect people across the country.