Children are living in families impacted by the two-child limit everywhere in the UK

New data[1] obtained by the End Child Poverty Coalition shows the huge scale at which the two-child limit is impacting families across the UK. In April 2023 there were 1.5 million children affected by the two-child limit[2], this is equal to 1 in 10 children. This data provides the figure for children impacted by the two child limit in each Westminster Constituency, and each local Authority.

We also know that larger families are much more likely to experience poverty. The poverty rate for children in families with three or more children was 42%, compared with 23% and 22% among children in families with one or two children respectively[3].

A summary of the data:

• Across the UK 1.5 million children live in households who that are subject to the two-child limit to benefit payments. This is 1 child in every 10.
• Every UK constituency in the UK is now home to families impacted by this policy.
• But there is widespread variation across the country – in some constituencies the rate of children affected is as high as 3 in 10.
• There is a divide across England, with regions in the North of England seeing the highest levels of families impacted by the policy. The West Midlands is the region with the highest levels at 14%. In the North West and Yorkshire & Humber the figure is 13%. In the North East it is 12%.
• In general, the constituencies most affected by the two-child limit are those with the highest child poverty rates.
• The strong relationship between the limit and poverty is unsurprising as families subject to the two-child limit are missing out on up to £3,235 per child in 2023/24.
• Even in the South East, the least affected region, over 160,000 children’s life chances are blighted by this policy.
• The annual cost of scrapping the two-child limit is £1.3 billion – in 2023/24, making it the most cost-effective way to reduce child poverty. Doing so would immediately lift 250,000 children out of poverty .