1 in 9 children, 1.6 million are affected by the two-child limit on benefits according to a new survey of 560 families hit by the policy
The survey by the Child Poverty Action Group out this morning reveals the deep suffering and deprivation it’s causing.
Parents responding to the survey, by Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG), report direct harms to their children and to family life. Parents report having to keep children off school because of lack of money for basics like school shoes. Some mothers have been forced to cut short maternity leave to return to work, when babies are as young as four months. Children have been forced to give up GCSE subjects like PE because of associated costs. And parents say their youngest children are ‘clingy’ and less confident than older siblings because the two-child limit makes social activities like playgroups unaffordable.
One working mother reports: “My number one reason for doing anything is my children, yet when I watch them queuing in a foodbank with me because I physically can’t provide for them, I feel horrific, it makes you feel like an absolute failure.”
Almost half of respondents said they struggle to pay their rent or mortgage because of the policy. A similar proportion struggle to manage childcare costs.
The vast majoritysaid the policy has affected their ability to pay for food. Eighty two per cent said it meant they struggle to cover gas or electricity bills.
Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) Church of England, End Child Poverty and the Benefit Changes and Larger Families study call on the new Prime Minister to send a clear signal in next week’s King’s Speech that the two-child limit will be abolished this year.
Chief Executive of Child Poverty Action Group Alison Garnham said:
“Children are losing their life chances to the two-child limit now – they can’t wait for the new government to align every star before the policy is scrapped. The PM came to office pledging a bold, ambitious child poverty-reduction plan and there’s no way to deliver on that promise without scrapping the two-child limit, and fast. This is not the time for procrastination or prevarication – the futures of 1.6 million children are on the line.”
Responding The new Work and Pensions Secretary branded child poverty a “stain on our society
Liz Kendall said ;
Too many children are growing up in poverty and this is a stain on our society. We will work to give every child the best start in life by delivering our manifesto commitment to implement an ambitious strategy to reduce child poverty. I will hold critical meetings with charities and experts next week to get this urgent work under way.
