Scrapping the two-child benefit cap would be popular with voters

Some 39% of voters would be more likely to vote for a party that pledged to scrap the two-child benefit cap, according to a new poll.

The survey commissioned by Save the Children and shared with i newspaper found 31% of Conservative voters and half of Labour and Lib Dem voters could be swayed in favour of a party making such a promise.

Neither Labour nor the Conservatives have backed calls for the cap to be lifted.

What is the two-child cap?

The two-child cap means parents can only claim child tax credit or universal credit for a maximum of two kids per household. It currently impacts about 1.5 million children and - if it were to be scrapped - 250,000 youngsters would be lifted out of poverty, according to the End Child Poverty Coalition.

Are there any exceptions to the two-child limit?

You can only get extra child tax credit or universal credit for more than two kids if:

• they were born before 6 April 2017
• they are disabled
• you qualify for an exception for child tax credit or special circumstances for universal credit

You may qualify for an exception or special circumstances if:

• you receive guardian’s allowance
• you have adopted children
• the child you’re claiming for is from a multiple birth
• the child you’re claiming for was conceived through rape and you don’t live with the perpetrator
• the child you’re claiming for is the child of one of your children who is under 16
• the child you’re claiming for is not your child or your stepchild and you’re looking after them under a court order or an arrangement with social services (not fostering)

Find out more about exceptions and special circumstances.