'Two-child limit pushing families deep into poverty

Fresh figures reveal the toll of Britain's child benefit rules

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Government statistics released on Thursday show the reach of the two-child limit.

There are 1,665,540 children in England, Scotland and Wales living in households affected by the two-child limit, an increase of over 35,000 from the same time in 2024.

The two-child limit restricts means-tested child benefits to the first two children in a household, subject to some exceptions.

Its sister policy, the benefit cap, affects over 115,000 households, including 300,000 children. It routinely pushes families into deep poverty, far below the standard poverty line of 60% of median income.

The benefit cap places a limit on the total amount a household can receive if no-one in the household earns a minimum amount, again subject to some exceptions linked to receipt of disability benefits.

Over the past five years, we have been part of a team of academic researchers investigating the impact of both policies on families with three or more children. We've found that these policies drive up poverty, creating deprivation and hardship. This in turn causes sustained and severe harm to children and their families.