Charities call for two-child benefit cap to be scrapped

Ministers are facing renewed calls to scrap the controversial two-child benefit cap.

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

But a group of leading charities, including Citizens Advice, Barnardo’s and Save the Children UK, believe scrapping the policy would be the most cost-effective way to reduce child poverty “by far”.

In a joint letter, the charities said: “It would lift 350,000 children out of poverty overnight and result in 700,000 children living in less deep poverty.”

The letter also warned that if the two-child benefit cap stays in place, child poverty could reach a record high by the end of this parliament.

This, it said, would be “the first time a Labour government would leave such a legacy”.

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

So far, ministers have refused to be drawn on whether the two-child benefit cap might be scrapped.

Although the government has stated that it wants to lift the cap, it’s also said it will only do so when economic conditions allow.

And in a recent interview with 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.”

The government is set to publish its child poverty strategy in the coming months.

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.