End Child Poverty Coalition Warmly Welcomes Government’s Budget and Plan to Scrap the Two-Child Limit
For immediate release
Coalition staff are available for interview on request
The End Child Poverty Coalition responds to the government’s announcement today that the two-child limit is to be scrapped.
Joseph Howes, CEO of Buttle UK and Chair of the End Child Poverty Coalition said;
“We commend The Chancellor on her decision to scrap the two-child limit, which will lift hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty. This provides real hope for families across the country. More children will grow up with the security, opportunity, and support they deserve. This change will help lift futures — giving more children the chance to dream bigger, learn without limits, and grow up knowing they are valued.”
Steph Capewell, Chief Executive of Love, Amelia baby bank in the North East, and Coalition member said;
“Love, Amelia strongly welcomes this decision to scrap the two-child limit in full. This bold action will transform the lives of thousands of children growing up in poverty in the North East and beyond. We’ve seen a 70% rise in referrals for essentials such as cots, prams and clothing, a clear sign that families are struggling. Every child deserves to be safe, happy and to thrive, and this announcement is a powerful step towards that goal.”
Liv, a Youth Ambassador for the End Child Poverty Coalition, aged 22 said;
“I am delighted to see the government recognise the harm caused by this policy and commit to redressing it. The decision taken to scrap the two-child limit challenges the argument – repeated too often – that some children are somehow less deserving of security and support simply because of the circumstances they were born into.”
Speaking on behalf of End Child Poverty members in Scotland John Dickie said;
“The UK Chancellor’s decision to scrap the cruel two-child limit is absolutely the right thing to do. The Scottish government has committed to mitigating the two-child limit so the very welcome decision to abolish the policy at source frees up over £150 million in the 2026/27 Scottish budget (1). Ministers have already committed to using this money to tackle child poverty and we urge them to use it to further boost Scottish social security for families, for example by increasing the Scottish Child Payment toward the £40 a week that is needed by the end of this Parliament. It is vital that the money freed up today is spent on increased social security support and that it adds to existing commitments to fund the childcare, whole family support, employment and housing that are also crucial to families.”
The two-child limit to benefit payments is a cruel policy which pushes families into poverty. It deprives families who claim benefit payments of the child element of this, if their third child was born after April 2017. 1 in every 9 children in the UK lives in a home which has benefit payments reduced by this policy.
Research from the Coalition has shown there is a strong positive correlation between the percentage of children living in poverty in parliamentary constituencies, and the percentage of children impacted by the policy. Where you have high levels of child poverty, you have a higher proportion of families impacted by the policy. Scrapping the policy would also significantly impact local economies. Deprived areas especially could
see a huge boost; Liverpool Riverside, ranked the most deprived constituency in England, could gain over £5 million annually. Birmingham Ladywood, the fourth most deprived area could gain around £16 million annually, and Bradford East – the ninth most deprived area could gain around £11 million annually.[1]
Scrapping the two-child limit will lift 350,000 children out of poverty instantly. However, had the government chosen to scrap the benefit cap alongside this, the number of children impacted would have increased to 400,000 children being lifted out of poverty, and 950,000 children living in less deep poverty.[2]
Notes to editors
- The End Child Poverty coalition (www.endchildpoverty.org.uk) is made up of 140 organisations from civil society including children’s charities, child welfare organisations, social justice groups, faith groups, trade unions and others, united in our vision of a UK free of child poverty. Members include Child Poverty Action Group, The Children’s Society, Buttle UK, Gingerbread, Oxfam GB, Action for Children, Trade Unions Congress, Save the Children, and the National Children’s Bureau.
- About Love, Amelia; Love, Amelia is a children’s baby bank charity supporting families across the North East, providing essential items and equipment for children from birth to 16 years experiencing poverty and hardship. Since launching in 2019, the charity has supported over 31,000 children across seven local authority areas. We strongly believe every child deserves equal opportunities to be safe, happy, and to thrive. By operating a circular economy to distribute new and pre-loved items, we help reduce material deprivation, while our Blossom service tackles the root causes of hardship through access to welfare, housing, and income support.
- You can get in touch with the coalition by emailing rachel@endchildpoverty.org.uk or on 07918 567577.
[1] ‘At the Limit’ available https://endchildpoverty.org.uk/two_child_limit-2025/
[2] From Child Poverty Action Group, a Coalition partner; https://cpag.org.uk/policy-and-research/our-position/two-child-limit-our-position
