More families affected by the two-child limit

Responding to today’s official government statistics showing the number of families affected by the two-child limit in tax credits and universal credit after two years of the policy, Chief Executive of Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) Alison Garnham said: “Every child deserves a good start in life, but today’s figures are a grim reminder of the human cost of this nasty policy, which says that some children are more deserving than others purely on the basis of their birth order  - and which mostly affects working families.  In the UK we would never turn a third-born child away from school or hospital.  How can it be right to deny the same young children the support they need to enjoy a childhood free from poverty when their family falls on hard times?

“Our recent survey of over 400 affected families revealed the deep damage the policy has already done in just two years.  Parents reported more conflict at home – even between siblings – as money worries rise and older children have to relinquish childhood fundamentals like football club, school trips and swimming lessons so that nappies, baby milk and bills  can be paid for.  Many parents had to borrow money each month to get by, and several had considered terminations when they found out about the policy after they became pregnant.

“The two-child limit undermines family life and leaves children without support in their vital early years, when the foundations are being laid for their future development. The government should lift the two-child limit to help all children thrive. ”

CPAG’s analysis indicates that 1.8 million children are likely to be affected by the two child limit by 2023. Of these one million will already be living below the poverty line, and will be pushed deeper into poverty by the policy. A further 300,000 will be pushed into poverty by the two-child limit.

The statistics reveal:

• 592,000 children affected by the policy
• 161,000 families affected
• 59 per cent of affected families are working
• 58 per cent of affected families have three children
• Four per cent of affected families receive an exception (510 of which are on the grounds of conception as a result of non-consensual sex)

* Read  CPAG’s joint report with the Church of England and others, All Kids Count: the impact of the two-child limit after two years, published in June 2019 here

* Read the official HMRC statistics here

* Child Poverty Action Group https://cpag.org.uk/

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