Fully abolishing the two-child limit is crucial in the fight against rising child poverty rates, with experts warning that urgent action is needed to prevent a projected historic high of 34% – equivalent to around 4.8 million children – by the end of the decade.
The Resolution Foundation emphasized the necessity of eliminating the policy, which currently restricts Child Tax Credits and Universal Credit to the first two children in a family. They highlighted that failure to act decisively would result in more children being trapped in poverty.
Although there have been discussions about potentially adjusting the limit to three children or modifying benefits for additional children, the Resolution Foundation cautioned that only a complete repeal of the policy would effectively reduce child poverty rates.
In their report, the authors stressed that there is no valid reason to delay scrapping the policy and asserted that only full repeal would be sufficient to address the issue. They recommended immediate action following the upcoming Budget announcement.
Alex Clegg from the Resolution Foundation expressed concerns about the alarming projections, stating that without intervention, child poverty could escalate significantly. He reiterated that eliminating the two-child limit on benefits is the most impactful way to combat poverty among children.
A government spokesperson affirmed the commitment to providing every child with equal opportunities, outlining initiatives such as the child poverty taskforce’s forthcoming strategy. They highlighted investments in children’s development through initiatives like Best Start Family Hubs, free school meal extensions, and a crisis support package to address hunger among the most vulnerable.