Today, I want to draw your attention to the two-child limit – a social security policy which restricts support for children in universal credit and tax credits.
You may well know people affected by the policy, or be affected yourself, particularly since coronavirus and lockdown. These stories might be all too familiar.
One parent told us it: “leaves us short of money weekly, meaning we don't eat so the kids can, or we sit in the dark at night so there is enough power for the kids and they don't know how skint we are.”
We know parents always try to protect their children from financial worries. This is what another said:“I feel that we are much more stretched financially, and in the past especially when my youngest was a baby we found it difficult to make ends meet, even though my husband worked extra hours to financially support us, I also did some part time work to help pay our bills and to be able to afford clothes and days out/Christmas and birthdays for our children. However this also made family life more difficult trying to balance 3 small children, and both of us working extra hours to support our kids.”
The pandemic has highlighted just how problematic the policy is:
“Everything was okay up until covid-19. We had our own business and were paying to look after our family with no benefits - now our income is zero so it is hard to manage with 4 kids. Just so gutted that coronavirus has happened :(.”
We know these stories are difficult to read. And I know you will agree that our social security system, much like our treasured NHS, should be there for all of us at our time of need. Instead, the two-child limit is pushing thousands of children into poverty, and many more already in poverty into deeper poverty.
With you by our side, we will continue to push the government to lift the two-child limit. We’re also working with other organisations to campaign against it, and our legal challenge to the policy will be heard in the Supreme Court in October.
Today, I urge you to talk to your friends and family about the two-child limit, and how it could affect you or families you know. We’re posting about it on Twitter and Facebook today – if you can, please do share so more people are aware of this awful policy. Thank you.
Kind regards,
Lizzie
Lizzie Flew
Child Poverty Action Group
