> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.europeans.today/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # I research poverty in the UK – the two-child benefit limit is causing real and lasting harm - URL: https://www.europeans.today/2024/09/19/i-research-poverty-in-the-uk-the-two-child-benefit-limit-is-causing-real-and-lasting-harm/ - Published: 2024-09-19T00:05:00.000Z - Updated: 2024-09-19T22:29:17.000Z - Description: The Labour government’s legislative agenda lacks a commitment to end the two-child benefit limit, which contributes significantly to child poverty. Activists and researchers urge its removal, highlighting widespread harm to affected families. - Author: Ruth Patrick - Tags: Child Poverty, Young People, Eradicating Child Poverty, Keir Starmer, Labour Party, Children, Parents, Two-Child Benefit Limit, United Kingdom, UK Politics **TL;DR | Highlights from this story** ● The last King’s Speech introduced various policies but neglected significant changes to social security. ● The two-child limit on benefits remains in place, affecting one in nine UK children negatively. ● The policy is internationally uncommon, leading to material and symbolic harm for impacted families. ● Labour’s child poverty taskforce aims to address the issue, but broader social security reform is crucial. T he first [King’s speech](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/cp08znej003o?ref=europeans.today) of the new Labour government, in July, set out a wide-ranging legislative programme. There was lots to welcome, such as a new deal for workers and a child wellbeing bill. But there were also some very notable absences. Most significantly, there was almost nothing on social security and the government has not, as yet, committed to getting rid of the [poverty-producing and harmful two-child limit](https://largerfamilies.study/?ref=europeans.today) on benefits. The two-child limit restricts means-tested government support to just the first two children in a household. It applies to families whether or not someone in the household is in work. The most recent figures show that [one in nine children](https://cpag.org.uk/news/new-dwp-statistics-1-9-children-now-hit-two-child-limit?ref=europeans.today) across the UK live in households affected by the limit. The government’s failure to axe the two-child limit has provoked consternation from [Labour backbenchers](https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/kim-johnson-labour-mp-calls-for-two-child-benefit-cap-to-be-axed/?ref=europeans.today) and from MPs from other parties. The SNP has plans to [table an amendment](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c51ykzpj6z1o?ref=europeans.today#:%7E:text=The%20Conservative%20government%20introduced%20the,an%20increase%20of%20almost%208%25.) to the king’s speech to end the limit. The continuation of the limit is also deeply disappointing for researchers and activists who work on poverty. There is a mass of evidence on the harm this policy causes. The two-child limit has been a key driver of [child poverty](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/jul/11/labour-will-it-scrap-two-child-benefit-cap?ref=europeans.today) in recent years and will continue to be [in the future](https://ifs.org.uk/articles/two-child-limit-poverty-incentives-and-cost?ref=europeans.today#:%7E:text=The%20two%2Dchild%20limit%20means,putting%20them%20into%20relative%20poverty.) if it stays. [My own research](https://largerfamilies.study/?ref=europeans.today) with colleagues at the universities of York, [Oxford](https://aaronreeves.org/?ref=europeans.today) and [LSE](https://www.lse.ac.uk/social-policy/people/academic-staff/Dr-Kitty-Stewart?ref=europeans.today) shows the harm this policy causes. [Parents report](https://largerfamilies.study/publications/needs-and-entitlements?ref=europeans.today) having to make almost impossible choices on a day-to-day basis: how to tell their children they just don’t have the few pounds for an after-school club; which child’s needs to prioritise when both urgently need some new clothes. [Our analysis](https://sticerd.lse.ac.uk/CASE/%5FNEW/PUBLICATIONS/abstract/?index=9855&ref=europeans.today) also shows that the policy is internationally unusual. No other European country caps means-tested support at two children. The policy places the UK with a small number of European countries where help for children is contingent on the behaviour of their parents. It’s what we describe as adult-behaviour-orientated policies. ### **Child welfare** The two-child limit causes real and lasting material harm, but it also matters symbolically. Every day that it remains in place the suggestion is made that those children who do not receive support simply do not count, and state funds are better targeted elsewhere. This should not be about politics. Every single member of the House of Commons should be ready to stand up and say, resoundingly, kids in poverty do matter, and we want to do what we can to allow them to live fulfilled and happy childhoods. [When we asked parents](https://largerfamilies.study/publications/needs-and-entitlements?ref=europeans.today) what they thought of the two-child limit, one of our participants, Kalima, spoke for many when she said: > “It’s not fair on the kids … being a single parent it affects the kids anyway and then having that financial burden on top, it’s not nice and our kids are our future.” Following the king’s speech, Labour announced a [child poverty taskforce](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ministerial-taskforce-launched-to-kickstart-work-on-child-poverty-strategy?ref=europeans.today) which will jumpstart work to develop a strategy for child poverty. This is to be welcomed, and it can only be hoped that the ministerial team will listen closely to taskforce members who are likely to speak as one and with a resounding message on the two-child limit: it simply has to go if Labour are to meet their commitment to reducing record rates of child poverty. But getting rid of the two-child limit [should be only the beginning](https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/abolishing-the-two-child-limit-is-just-the-start-for-tackling-child-poverty/?ref=europeans.today). [Research I’ve conducted](https://academic.oup.com/ooec/article/3/Supplement%5F1/i1262/7708133?ref=europeans.today) into everyday experiences of poverty and social security over the last 15 years sets out very clearly how the hollowing out of provision and successive rounds of retrenchments and cuts have left a system which is simply not fit for purpose. Social security can and should be seen as an investment. It’s something which matters to all of us, and can be there for all of us, in times of need across our lives. Getting rid of the two-child limit needs to be just [one part](https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/abolishing-the-two-child-limit-is-just-the-start-for-tackling-child-poverty/?ref=europeans.today) of a wider agenda on social security. This agenda needs to include action to shore up and invest in social security support, and efforts to ensure that those receiving benefits experience dignified and respectful treatment. Their contributions and place in society – as parents, carers, disabled people and often as workers, too – should be recognised and valued. The government may have a lot on its plate, but the two-child limit really needs attention. The nation’s children facing poverty simply cannot wait. ![PUBLIC SQUARE UK](https://storage.ghost.io/c/15/40/1540bec0-7154-4feb-b8e1-97f579155b08/content/images/2021/09/end-flat-1.png "PUBLIC SQUARE UK") ### **GOING FURTHER** - ###### [Labour’s first King’s Speech: What happened in 60 seconds](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/cp08znej003o?ref=europeans.today) | BBC NEWS - ###### [The sins of the parents: Conceptualising adult-oriented reforms to family policy](https://sticerd.lse.ac.uk/CASE/%5FNEW/PUBLICATIONS/abstract/?index=9855&ref=europeans.today) | CASE & LSE - ###### [Living at the sharp end of socio-economic inequality: everyday experiences of poverty and social security receipt](https://academic.oup.com/ooec/article/3/Supplement%5F1/i1262/7708133?ref=europeans.today) | OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS ### --- ### **Sources:** ##### ▪ This piece was originally published in [The Conversation](https://theconversation.com/i-research-poverty-in-the-uk-the-two-child-benefit-limit-is-causing-real-and-lasting-harm-234977?ref=europeans.today) and re-published in PUBLIC SQUARE UK on 19 September 2024\. | The author writes in a personal capacity. ##### ▪ **Cover:** Unsplash/[Bianca Berndt](https://unsplash.com/@ratiubia?ref=europeans.today). (Licensed under a [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/?ref=europeans.today).) ![Creative Commons License](https://i.creativecommons.org/l/by-sa/4.0/88x31.png "Cover photograph license") --- ![The Conversation](https://counter.theconversation.com/content/234977/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic)