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Two-Child Limit Excludes Most Households with Third Child from Universal Credit

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The two-child limit excludes most households with a third or subsequent child born on or after April 6, 2017, from claiming Universal Credit. This policy has been criticized by charities for pulling increasing numbers of children and families into poverty. In Aylesbury, nearly 2,810 children were living in 780 households affected by the two-child limit in April, with around 18 per 1,000 households impacted by the policy. Across Great Britain, nearly 1.7 million children were living in some 470,000 households affected by the two-child limit in April.

Key Takeaways:

  • The two-child limit excludes most households with a third or subsequent child born on or after April 6, 2017, from claiming Universal Credit.
  • In Aylesbury, nearly 2,810 children were living in 780 households affected by the two-child limit in April, with around 18 per 1,000 households impacted by the policy.
  • Across Great Britain, nearly 1.7 million children were living in some 470,000 households affected by the two-child limit in April.
  • The two-child limit pushes children into poverty, forcing families to live on less than they need.
  • More than half (59%) of households affected by the policy 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 is "pushing these families even deeper into poverty and trapping them there."
  • Alison Garnham, chief executive of Child Poverty Action Group, urged the Government to remove the policy in its autumn child poverty strategy to prevent more children from living in poverty.

Statistics:

  • 2,810 children in Aylesbury were living in 780 households affected by the two-child limit in April.
  • Around 18 per 1,000 households in Aylesbury were impacted by the policy.
  • 1.7 million children were living in some 470,000 households affected by the two-child limit in April across Great Britain.
  • The two-child limit has increased the number of children living in poverty, with 1.4 million children in nearly 386,000 households affected the year before.
  • 59% of households affected by the policy were in work in April, with at least one claimant in the household earning.
  • 530 (68%) of affected households in Aylesbury were in work.

Sources:

  • Department for Work and Pensions
  • Child Poverty Action Group
  • Action for Children
  • Scottish Government
  • UK Parliament

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