Government won’t commit to scrapping two-child benefit cap

The government has refused to be drawn on whether the two-child benefit cap might be scrapped.

At the moment, parents can only claim child tax credit or universal credit for a maximum of two children per household.

But many campaigners believe that scrapping the policy would lift thousands of children out of poverty.

And the government itself has said that while it does want to lift the cap, it will only do so when economic conditions allow.

Speaking to The i Paper, work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall said: “We will only make promises if we show we can afford it and how we’re going to commit to them.

“I’m not into a wing and a prayer, I’m into solid action. 

“People deserve that and you’ll just have to wait until we publish our child poverty strategy.”

Government ‘will deliver on tackling child poverty’

Ms Kendall pointed out that the government clearly committed to driving child poverty down in its election manifesto and said it will deliver on this aim.

She also admitted that if child poverty rates were still going up at the time of the next election, she would consider it a personal failure.

“I campaigned my whole life to give children an equal start, and that is what I’m determined to deliver on,” Ms Kendall added.

Scrapping two-child cap ‘would lift 350,000 children out of poverty’

The Child Poverty Action Group is among the campaigners calling for the two-child limit to be abolished.

According to the group, scrapping the policy would lift around 350,000 children out of poverty straight away.

“The government’s child poverty strategy will fall flat on its face unless it scraps the two-child limit,” said chief executive Alison Garnham.

“Reducing the record high levels of child poverty in the UK will require a whole government effort, but abolishing the two-child limit is the essential first step.”

Find out what benefits you can claim

If you’re struggling to make ends meet because of the two-child benefit cap, then it’s worth finding out what other help you can get.

Use our benefits calculator to find out if you’re getting all the benefits you’re entitled to.