Summary
The UK government is considering whether to remove a rule that limits benefits to the first two children in a family. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said this change would be expensive but could help reduce poverty. The government will make a decision in the autumn, as part of their plan to address child poverty.
Key Facts
- The two-child benefit cap stops families from getting extra benefit money for a third child if they were born after April 2017.
- Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson mentioned the government is thinking about removing this cap.
- Phillipson warned that ending the cap would cost a lot of money.
- The decision will be part of the government's child poverty plan, expected in the autumn.
- The rule has been criticized for pushing families into poverty.
- Around 1.6 million children are affected by the cap.
- Removing the cap could cost £3.5 billion but might help 470,000 children escape poverty.
- Different political parties, like the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party, have promised to remove the cap in their plans.
