Thousands of Children in Llanelli Living in Poverty Due to Two-Child Limit

Strategic Insights -

New figures show that thousands of children in Llanelli are living in households affected by the two-child limit, a policy that has been criticized for pushing families into poverty. The two-child limit excludes most households with a third or subsequent child born on or after 6 April 2017 from claiming Universal Credit. Charities have warned that the policy is having a devastating impact on children and families, urging the Government to scrap it as part of its upcoming child poverty strategy.

Key Takeaways:

  • The two-child limit affects around 17 per 1,000 households in Llanelli, slightly below the 18 per 1,000 average rate across England and Wales.
  • Some 2,410 children in Llanelli were living in 700 households affected by the two-child limit in April.
  • The policy affects around 470,000 households across Great Britain, impacting nearly 1.7 million children.
  • Most households affected by the two-child limit (59%) were in work in April, with at least one claimant in the household earning.
  • Julia Pitman, head of policy and research at Action for Children, warned that the two-child limit and the benefit cap "push families even deeper into poverty and trap them there".
  • Around 38,200 (8%) of households hit by the two-child limit policy in Great Britain were also affected by the benefit cap in April.
  • The two-child limit has been in place since 6 April 2017, and the benefit cap was used to restrict Child Tax Credit benefits, which closed in April.

Statistics:

  • 17 per 1,000 households in Llanelli were affected by the two-child limit in April.
  • 2,410 children in Llanelli were living in 700 households affected by the two-child limit in April.
  • 384,000 households across Great Britain were affected by the two-child limit (year before).
  • 470,000 households across Great Britain were affected by the two-child limit (April).
  • 1.4 million children in nearly 386,000 households across Great Britain were affected by the two-child limit (year before).
  • 1.7 million children in 470,000 households across Great Britain were affected by the two-child limit (April).
  • 360 households in Llanelli were in work, which made up 51% of the 700 households affected by the two-child limit.

Sources:

  • Figures from the Department for Work and Pensions
  • Child Poverty Action Group chief executive Alison Garnham
  • Julia Pitman, head of policy and research at Action for Children
  • A Government spokesperson
  • "Thousands of Mid and South Pembrokeshire children in families hit by two-child limit" (Tenby Today)
  • "More than 1,500 Ceredigion Preseli children in families hit by two-child limit" (Tenby Today)
  • "More than 1,500 Caerfyrddin children in families hit by two-child limit" (Tenby Today)
  • "Wales targets child abuse with new strategy" (Tenby Today)