Charities in Suffolk have welcomed some of chancellor Rachel Reeves' budget announcements, but expressed concerns about others.
Plans to lift the two child benefit cap were backed with caveats, but there were reservations about the freeze on National Insurance (NI) and income tax thresholds for the next three years.
Mike Smith, who runs Stowmarket and Area Foodbank, which provides food for families and individuals in crisis, was one charity boss who supported lifting the benefits cap.
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He said: "Well I think it will help people with more than two children. As far as I understand it, it will be a help to families that are struggling.
"Anything that national government can do to support people on the edge or near the edge, people that are struggling with the cost of living and life, is a benefit."
The two child benefit cap means parents can only claim state financial support through universal credit or tax credits for the first two children.
But in the House of Commons on Wednesday (November 26), the chancellor announced that she believed "every child" deserved an equal chance to achieve their goals and the "biggest barrier" to this was child poverty.
Mr Smith added: "In principle, removing the two child cap should be a step forward for people who are struggling to make ends meet."
However, he was concerned that the freeze in income tax could make life more difficult for working people, saying that visitors to his foodbank included working people, not just those on benefits.
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Meanwhile, the chief executive at Home-Start Suffolk, which supports families with children under-12, also welcomed the benefit cap changes, but said it would not be "transformative".
Tara Spence said: “Families welcome the lift of the two-child benefit cap, as Rachel Reeves said children should not be penalised, but they tell us it will not transform their children’s lives on its own.
“Early years and family services are stretched thin.
"Children are waiting months and sometimes years for mental health support, SEND assessments and other essential health services.
“Removing the cap helps families with income, but it does not replace the services that should be keeping children safe, healthy and learning.
“The need for charity services like ours will not be reduced.
"We will still be called on to provide emotional and practical support to help families across the county while they are waiting for statutory services.”
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