Reform UK would restore the two-child benefit cap if elected on the subsequent common election, based on its new Treasurer.
In his first speech because the social gathering’s Treasury spokesman, Conservative defector Robert Jenrick stated that the social gathering “can’t afford” to assist households in having extra children, so would reinstate the cap.
The announcement was a part of a broader speech delivered within the Metropolis of London, the place Reform pledged to revamp youngster advantages, reform advantages for these with mobility points, and cease advantages for these with “delicate nervousness, melancholy, and comparable situations.”
He additionally stated he would guarantee solely British nationals had entry to advantages, probably stripping away assist for hundreds of thousands of individuals, together with long-term residents throughout the nation, throughout a extreme cost-of-living disaster.
Addressing makes an attempt to encourage folks to have extra youngsters, Jenrick stated: “We are able to’t simply try this by spending an increasing number of on advantages”.
“Somebody has to instil some realism into this enterprise,” he added.
First launched by a Conservative authorities in 2017 to restrict advantages to the primary two youngsters, the two-child profit cap is about to be scrapped from April below the Labour authorities.
The tip of the controversial cap, dubbed a political train in division between the “deserving and undeserving poor,” would carry round 450,000 UK youngsters out of poverty, based on authorities estimates.
Nevertheless, the Tories have lengthy criticised plans to present dad and mom extra advantages for added youngsters, arguing in opposition to ending the two-child profit cap.
Jenrick’s remarks come only one week earlier than the nation faces its first crunch vote of the 12 months, with the Gorton and Denton by-election gearing as much as be a battle between the Inexperienced Occasion and Reform.
So what precisely is the two-child profit restrict, and the way has it affected British households?
Right here is the whole lot you might want to know.
What’s the two-child profit restrict?
The benefit cap first got here into impact in 2013, limiting the quantity of advantages a family may obtain.
Then, later in 2017, the Conservatives launched a two-child restrict with the intention of encouraging dad and mom of bigger households to work and low-income households to have fewer children.
The coverage prevents dad and mom from claiming youngster tax credit score or universal credit for his or her third or subsequent youngsters born after April 2017.
How has the kid profit restrict affected UK households?
Analysis carried out by the schools of York, Oxford, and London Faculty of Economics revealed that the two-child restrict and the profit cap had failed to fulfill their very own objectives, having zero constructive incentive affect on employment and failing to scale back fertility amongst poorer households.
Plus, it was discovered that the cap had been “poverty-producing”, inflicting 1000’s of low-income households nervousness and hardship.
Speaking about their findings, Ruth Patrick from the College of York has shared: “Our analysis proof makes clear that the two-child restrict and profit cap are poverty-producing insurance policies, which fail to fulfill their said goals. Each insurance policies should be eliminated urgently, as a part of a broader dedication to addressing child poverty and investing in youngsters and households.”
How a lot is Youngster Profit?
For the 2025-2026 monetary 12 months, Child Benefit will see a household’s eldest or solely youngster given £26.05 per week, and the second youngster receives £17.25 per week.
So, in complete, households with two or extra youngsters get £173.30 monthly to assist themselves.
This comes at a time of hovering payments and a cost-of-living disaster, with many households saying their weekly meals store repeatedly prices greater than £100.
Whereas Labour’s plans to scrap the cap would guarantee extra households can get a bit of additional money to remain afloat, Reform says they might preserve the cap in place.
Youngster Profit is often paid each 4 weeks on a Monday or Tuesday. Nevertheless, you possibly can have the cash paid weekly in the event you’re a single mum or dad or getting sure different advantages, comparable to Common Credit score.
If both mum or dad’s adjusted internet earnings exceeds £50,000 a 12 months, they might must pay the Excessive Earnings Youngster Profit Cost.
