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xThe two child limit is scrapped!
Date: 9th April 2026
Category:
Family support, Child poverty
This April, the two-child limit is a thing of the past! Previously, parents only received benefits for up to two children. This change that many children and parent’s rights organisations advocated for, is said to lift over 450.000 children out of poverty.
The UK Government announced the scrapping of the two-child limit in March 2026, with the change coming into effect on April 6th 2026. This is part of the UK Governments Child Poverty Strategy, and described as a historic change, and as causing the largest reduction in child poverty since records began.
The Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG), who is a member of Together, has spoken to parents affected by the policy and are delighted to share the things they told them about what the support will mean:
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A 10-year-old will get his first-ever birthday party.
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Lots of children will get clothes to replace worn-out hand-me-downs.
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Many parents mentioned wanting to buy better-quality food.
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One parent said her child would be able to go on the school trip without the family getting into debt.
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One mother is looking forward to replacing two of her children’s mattresses that are worn through.
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One mother spoke about how important it was for her kids to be able to swim because they live near the sea, so she’ll be getting swimming lessons.
The two-child limit had been scrutinised since it came into force in 2017 and was said to have caused families to miss out on essentials and cause them great hardship and debt.
The UK Government’s decision to scrap the two-child limit is great news for many children, young people and their families, bringing the UK closer to ending child poverty altogether.
This news comes at the same time as the Scottish Government’s third tackling child poverty delivery plan due under the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act 2017. Outlining action for the period 2026 to 2031, Scottish Government published the “Bringing Hope, Building Futures: Tackling child poverty delivery plan”, in early March just before the announcement that the two-child limit would be scrapped.