Christian leaders and advocates are strongly criticizing the current two-child limit on benefits in the U.K., denouncing its severe impact on families facing "acute hardship."
The Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) and the Church of England are urging the new Labour government to swiftly abolish this controversial policy. Implemented for children born after 6 April 2017, the policy restricts benefit payments to two children per family. Charities argue this rule has plunged many families into financial crisis, with each additional child born after the cutoff costing thousands of pounds annually in lost benefits.
Recent figures released by HM Revenue & Customs and the Department for Work and Pensions underscore the widespread impact of the policy. In the year leading up to April 2024, it affected a record 1.6 million children, up from 1.5 million in the previous year.
A survey conducted by CPAG among 560 affected families revealed alarming statistics: nearly half (45%) were struggling to meet rent or mortgage payments due to the policy, and a similar proportion (46%) found it challenging to cover childcare costs.
Furthermore, the survey highlighted that 93% of families reported difficulties in affording food, while 82% struggled with gas or electricity bills. Some parents reported extreme measures such as keeping children out of school due to financial constraints, and some mothers had to curtail their maternity leave prematurely to return to work.
The personal stories of affected families underscore the human toll of the policy. One single parent, balancing full-time work, lamented that their child could no longer participate in GCSE Physical Education due to associated costs. Another working mother expressed profound anguish over her children queuing with her at a foodbank, as she is unable to provide adequately for them.
Alison Garnham, Chief Executive of the Child Poverty Action Group, emphasized the urgency of ending the two-child limit, stating, "Children are losing their life chances to the two-child limit now – they can't wait for the new government to align every star before the policy is scrapped."
She added, "The PM came to office pledging a bold, ambitious child poverty-reduction plan, and there's no way to deliver on that promise without scrapping the two-child limit, and fast. This is not the time for procrastination or prevarication - the futures of 1.6 million children are on the line."
Echoing Garnham's call, the Bishop of Leicester, Martyn Snow, stressed the critical need to abolish the policy, saying, "The testimonies in this report remind us that the two-child limit continues to affect the wellbeing and life chances of too many children and families in this country."
"Abolishing this unfair policy is essential if we are to turn the tide on poverty and ensure that every child is supported to flourish in all areas of life."
