The government announced last month that housing benefit would be reduced to match the lowest 30 per cent of rents in each area from October next year.
But the charity's research, based on schools in London, shows that families receiving benefits could be priced out of the catchment area for high-performing schools, where rent is higher.
"To live within sufficient distance of the top scoring primary school in Hackney, you need to be able to pay upwards of £300 a week in rent for a two-bedroom flat," explained Rhian Beynon, Family Action's head of policy. "And from next year housing benefit for the neighbouring area will be limited to between £265 and £290. We do not see how children of low income parents are going to be helped by these proposals."
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