Autumn Statement 2012: child benefit cut until 2016 Critics said hard-working families on average incomes would suffer the most from the Chancellor's measures. Conservative MPs and family campaigners are also likely to be disappointed by the fact that Mr Osborne did not announce any tax breaks for married couples. Matthew Reed, chief executive of the Children's Society, said the below-inflation rise on top of the freeze in child benefit would "directly punish children." Ed Balls, the Shadow Chancellor accused the government of giving the richest in society a £3 billion tax cut, while "cutting child benefit for middle-income parents." Labour calculated that a family with one adult in work earning £20,000 and two children to support will lose a total of £279 next year as a result of changes announced yesterday. The figures were confirmed by independent Commons researchers. The charity, Working Families, also warned that the meagre increases in child benefit failed to show the Chancellor understood the concerns of parents. Sarah Jackson, Chief Executive of Working Families said: "New legislation will have to be introduced because he wants to break the connection between inflation and benefits. With inflation at 2.7%, his proposed one per cent increase in benefits will hit many working parents. It is disappointing that once again there is a failure to invest in childcare. The Centre for Social Justice, a think-tank founded by Iain Duncan Smith, said it was disappointed that Mr Osborne had not announced a transferable tax allowance for married couples. Christian Guy, the managing director, said: "The Government said it would introduce a transferable tax allowance for married couples, it is disappointing that this pledge has still to be fulfilled as it is shown that it would have a positive impact on the incomes of the poorest working households. It would also play a part in tackling the perverse incentives which currently persuade many people on low incomes to reject couple formation and the stability of marriage.