Ending benefit cap hailed 'a major victory in fight to end child poverty'

ENDING the two-child benefit cap is a “vital step in the right direction” towards ending child poverty in the North East, campaigners say.

- By DANIEL HOLLAND Local democracy reporter

Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed in her Budget yesterday that the controversial limit will be lifted in full from April 2026.

It is expected that ditching the cap will cost around £3bn and lift 450,000 children out of poverty by the end of this Parliament.

The policy, which was introduced in 2017, means that most families receiving Universal Credit can only claim support for their first two children.

Beth Farhat, chair of the North East Child Poverty Commission, said: “Scrapping the cruel two-child limit, in full and from next April, truly is a vital step in the right direction in bringing down the numbers of children held back by poverty both here in the North East and across the country.

“This will deliver a profound boost to the living standards and opportunities of babies, children and young people growing up across our region, lifting tens of thousands out of poverty and reducing the level of hardship experienced by tens of thousands more.”