As for benefits packages, she says, childless workers are not alone in not using all available benefits.

Contributory or employer-financed schemes, it was feared, might only help the worker with children at the expense of the childless worker.

Edwards would also triple the earned-income tax credit, expanding it from a program aimed at low-income workers with children to one that covers childless workers as well.

In 1993, Congress voted to use the credit to provide childless low-wage workers with a maximum of $300 in cash.

The maximum would be $300 a year, and some benefit would be available to childless workers with incomes below $9,000 a year.

That may be true, but at least single or childless workers have more control over their time - and the potential to do more work if they choose.

To the Editor: Kudos to Leslie Lafayette for her essay on fair play for childless workers.

President Clinton and Congress expanded the program last year to include childless workers with extremely low wages, but they receive only a small credit.

Under the proposed cuts, the woman would not receive any credit next year: All childless workers would be eliminated from the program.

The earned-income tax credit for childless workers and noncustodial parents, in particular, which is now negligible, would increase along with credits for working families.