Survey of 560 affected families reveals acute hardship. Charities and Church of England call on new government to commit to abolishing the policy this year – ‘...children can’t wait for government to align every star...’
'A child poverty strategy is imperative and extremely welcome but its first action point has to be abolishing the two-child limit which more than any other policy has driven child poverty to record levels. There needs to be some real ambition on family incomes and real change won’t come for the 4 million children in poverty until the two-child limit and benefit cap are scrapped and the rate of child benefit is increased. Our responsibility to the future starts with ensuring all children can have a good start in life. Today’s manifesto is a good first step, but no route to happy healthy children and a strong economy starts with record child poverty. We will need to see detailed policies and targets that demonstrate how a reduction in child poverty will be achieved.'
'The future is far from secure for 4 million children in poverty yet there isn’t a plan in the manifesto to tackle record child poverty. The PM’s commitment to increasing the number of families receiving child benefit is welcome but reducing entitlements to disability benefits and increasing sanctions in our social security system will make some of the worst-off families even more insecure. There will be no financial security for millions of struggling families until all parties commit to abolishing the poverty-producing two-child limit and benefit cap and to an increase in the rate of child benefit. Children have no voice in this election but their well-being should be front and centre for all politicians.'
‘Ending child poverty is now the urgent policy priority for any future government and scrapping the two-child limit and benefit cap and expanding free school meals eligibility are essential first steps down that road, but a comprehensive strategy across government is also needed to protect the well being of all children and achieve a fair deal for them - the next Government will need to go further and ensure child benefit is increased across the board and free school meals are available for every child.’
‘It’s good to hear that ending child poverty is central for Labour, but the best way to achieve that is by ending the two-child limit on benefits which is driving so many children into hardship. A child poverty reduction plan is essential, but scrapping the two-child limit would have to be step one.'
The proportion of tax credit claimants not moving to universal credit (UC) when required to – and losing all of their benefits as a result – has jumped to 39%, up from 25% in July, DWP figures published today show. That’s more than 180,000 people whose ‘legacy benefit’ claim has been terminated without safely making the move to UC.
With child poverty at a record high, the prime minister has now clearly decided that making kids poor is his political priority. After covid and the cost of living crisis, struggling families need a helping hand not another kick in the teeth.
The Prime Minister must know he can’t scare people into good health, but his words this morning will be chilling for low-income families up and down the country who rely on our social security system for help.
Today’s official poverty statistics show child poverty has reached a record high with an estimated 100,000 more children pulled into poverty last year.
