英国财政大臣受促解决托儿补助"悬崖效应"

英国财政大臣约翰·希利被敦促解决一项托儿补助政策中存在的"悬崖效应"问题1。税务改革中心的研究显示，当家庭收入达到£100,000时，托儿补助会被完全取消，这一阈值设置导致高收入家庭通过压低收入来保留补助资格1。税务改革中心主任阿伦·阿德瓦尼表示，"我们的分析显示托儿悬崖效应将在议会期末大幅增长，但政府有可用的解决方案"1。

根据研究数据，2022年约有1,000个家庭通过调整收入来避免超过这一阈值，预计到议会期末2030年这一数字可能上升至近12,000个1。更值得关注的是，在£100,000阈值以下，低收入方（通常为母亲）的失业率约为6%，而超过阈值后这一比例上升至9%1。到2030年，平均家庭需要赚取£124,000才能弥补失去免费托儿造成的损失1。

税务改革中心提议的解决方案包括限制托儿补助至15小时或按每赚取£1收费28便士实施逐步调整1。其中，将补助限制在15小时将在2030年前花费£210万1。财政大臣希利将于10月28日发布首份预算案1。

Chancellor John Healey is facing pressure to resolve a significant policy issue affecting high-income families' work decisions. Research from the Tax Reform Center reveals that a "cliff edge" in childcare support eligibility at the £100,000 income threshold is prompting parents to reduce working hours to retain benefits, with projections showing approximately 12,000 households could deliberately suppress their income by the end of the parliamentary term in 2030, compared to around 1,000 doing so in 2022 1.

The financial impact on affected families is substantial. By 2030, average households will need to earn £124,000 to compensate for the loss of free childcare once they exceed the threshold 1. The policy also carries employment consequences: among families below the £100,000 threshold, 6 percent of lower earners—typically mothers—remain unemployed, a figure that rises to 9 percent above the threshold 1. Aaron Adwani, director of the Tax Reform Center, stated: "Our analysis shows the childcare cliff edge will grow substantially by the end of the parliamentary term, but there are solutions available to government" 1.

To address these issues, researchers have proposed two potential remedies. One option involves capping subsidized childcare at 15 hours, which would cost £210 million by 2030 1. Alternatively, the government could implement a gradual phase-out, charging families 28 pence for every pound earned above the threshold 1. Healey is scheduled to present his first budget on October 28 1.