The impact of policies that aim to reduce child poverty on child and maternal mental health and health inequalities

UK child and maternal mental health is poor, with large inequalities between socioeconomic groups. High child poverty rates are a key factor, but there is limited evidence for how welfare policy changes targeting child poverty affect child and maternal mental health. 

This project will investigate the effect of changes to the tax credit system on child and maternal mental health from 2000 to 2016. Its goals include measuring the influence of policy on the level, eligibility, and uptake of tax credits across social groups over time, and using modern statistical methods for analysing large longitudinal datasets to investigate causal effects of policy changes on mothers and children. 

The research will engage with academics, policy makers and organisations working with low-income families to maximise its impact.