A broad coalition of 101 groups, including Christian organizations, is urging the UK government to completely abolish the two-child limit on benefits. This call comes ahead of the Autumn Budget, with concerns that partial measures will not adequately address poverty among families.
First introduced in 2017, the policy currently restricts financial support to the first two children in a family via universal and tax credits.
Advocates argue that this limit significantly contributes to child poverty, impacting approximately 1.6 million children across the country.
The coalition’s statement, directed at the Chancellor, emphasizes the upcoming Budget as an opportunity to eliminate the limit, thus improving children’s futures and the nation’s potential. The statement reads, “Every day the two-child limit remains, in any form, it pushes children into poverty. Now is not the time for half-measures.”
The Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) has analyzed the policy’s impact, revealing that 109 children are pushed into poverty daily. Abolishing the limit could immediately lift 400,000 children out of poverty and alleviate hardships for an additional 700,000.
CPAG’s chief executive, Alison Garnham, remarked, “Government wants to reduce child poverty but until the two-child limit is abolished in full its efforts will be hamstrung. This is a one-time chance to make the big difference needed for children. The policy must be scrapped in the Budget before more children have their life chances stunted.”
The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) has also expressed concerns about the link between poverty and children’s health, with its president, Professor Steve Turner, noting financial pressures are limiting healthcare access and increasing poverty-related illnesses. “If the government is serious about raising the healthiest generation of children ever, we must see the end of the two-child limit,” he stated.
The letter was signed by other notable organizations such as Church Action on Poverty, the British Medical Association, Save the Children UK, Citizens Advice, and the National Association of Headteachers, among others.
Highlighting the broader impact, the letter discusses how child poverty affects education, housing, and local economies. Rachael Williamson from the Chartered Institute of Housing emphasized the importance of removing the cap to aid families in securing affordable housing and reducing long-term social costs. “A safe, secure and affordable home is the foundation every child needs to thrive,” she said.
The National Association of Headteachers’ general secretary, Paul Whiteman, observed the policy’s effects in educational settings, stating, “So many of the challenges holding children back at school have their roots in poverty and disadvantage. Addressing child poverty has to be a fundamental part of that. It is what will make the biggest difference to a child’s life chances.”
The coalition underscores the Budget as a pivotal moment for tackling child poverty, which has reached unprecedented levels. They argue that repealing the two-child limit is both an ethical and economic decision, potentially boosting family incomes and reducing strain on public services like schools and hospitals.
The statement concludes by urging the Prime Minister and Chancellor to seize this crucial opportunity, saying, “Now is the moment for the Prime Minister and Chancellor to hear the voices of the UK’s children and take this vital opportunity to do the right thing.”
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
