New study outlines impact of two child benefit limit

Source: CoE Media/Child Poverty Action Group

Research on the impact of the two-child limit in tax credits and universal credit, conducted by the Child Poverty Action Group and the Mission and Public Affairs Council of the Church of England, was published yesterday.

All Kids Count: the impact of the two-child limit after two years, shows that parents affected by the policy are reporting that they have cut back on fresh food for children, are unable to cover essential utility bills, and are being obliged to withdraw older children from activities such as swimming lessons and school trips.

The report, with additional contributions from Women's Aid, the Refugee Council, and the charity, Turn2us, includes analysis by the Institute for Public Policy research (IPPR) which projects that one million children who already live in poverty will be pushed further below the poverty line by the time universal credit is fully rolled out in 2023/24 as a result of the policy. The research draws on a survey of more than 430 families and 16 in-depth follow-up interviews with a representative sample of survey respondents. Women's Aid and the Refugee Council provided additional findings from interviews with survivors of domestic abuse and refugees. The Anglican Bishop of Durham, Paul Butler, said: "We believe that children are a blessing, not a burden - and that a third or fourth child is no less precious than the first or second.

"The Government's two-child limit goes against this fundamental principle and is pushing many families and children into poverty. It is simply not right that some children get support and others don't. The two-child limit must be lifted as part of a concerted effort to reverse the rise in child poverty."

Read the report in full HERE

See also: I Daniel Blake - www.indcatholicnews.com/news/36293