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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think adding more child benefits is a pointless and futile policy?

189 replies

MelissaExplainsItAll · 27/02/2025 10:30

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/feb/26/parents-under-fives-could-be-exempted-two-child-benefit-cap-uk

I think child poverty would be better relieved in ways other than giving the parents more cash.

For example:

  • better funded breakfast and after school clubs
  • better funded nursery hours (banning top up charges)
  • expansion of free school meals
  • better school funding
  • direct funding of school holiday clubs

AIBU?

OP posts:
PinkPinkPinkBlue · 27/02/2025 11:19

I think instead of lifting cap from two children to three and then limiting it to two again once the youngest hits age 5, the child element for the two children should be raised to an amount that is realistic to raising a child. Currently £287 per child how about raising that to £400 per child? £113 a month increase means homes could be heated better and children will be feed the required amount.

twilightermummy · 27/02/2025 11:15

I'm against the cap in general however, the problem with scrapping it for under 5's would be that people might have more children under a false sense of security and not realise the impact of losing that money when they reach 5.

Digdongdoo · 27/02/2025 11:10

It should be both. We've got a looming population crisis, we need to spend whatever it takes to squeeze maximum productivity out of the next generations. That means well housed, well fed and well educated no matter the cost.

Outchy · 27/02/2025 11:09

MelissaExplainsItAll · 27/02/2025 10:30

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/feb/26/parents-under-fives-could-be-exempted-two-child-benefit-cap-uk

I think child poverty would be better relieved in ways other than giving the parents more cash.

For example:

  • better funded breakfast and after school clubs
  • better funded nursery hours (banning top up charges)
  • expansion of free school meals
  • better school funding
  • direct funding of school holiday clubs

AIBU?

You realise that a huge poverty factor is disability. households with a disabled family member are far more likely to be poor. If parents cannot work due to I'll health, then better funded after school care/holiday clubs will be of no use to them. Likewise, if you have a disabled child. Children with SEN are routinely excluded from breakfast/after school clubs, holiday clubs don't take them. Thus parents are forced out of work.

I don't think you understand drivers of poverty.

ShouldIRetrain · 27/02/2025 11:05

Removing the cap for under 5’s won’t work. As soon as they hit 5 the cap kicks in and the money which they are used to getting will be removed. Surely that will just kick the can down the road and the same issue will arise.

IVFmumoftwo · 27/02/2025 11:03

Better to give money so they can pay the bills and buy clothes for the children.

Donttellempike · 27/02/2025 11:02

Yes. You are being vvvv U

Donttellempike · 27/02/2025 11:02

Poverty is a lack of money. So more money is the solution

The problem is the mega rich not paying their tax

Not the poorest, who are having their kids pushed further in the gutter

IVFmumoftwo · 27/02/2025 10:59

Pigeonqueen · 27/02/2025 10:57

This.

There’s an underlying nastiness that somehow poorer parents are worse parents. That is not necessarily true.

Show quote history

I was chatting to someone who thinks only children of working parents should get nursery places and the poor kids should stay at home and not experience it.

Pigeonqueen · 27/02/2025 10:57

Itisbetter · 27/02/2025 10:48

So basically you feel that poor children should be cared for and fed away from their parents as much as possible?

No. I think that’s an appalling idea.

This.

There’s an underlying nastiness that somehow poorer parents are worse parents. That is not necessarily true.

Lasttraintolondon · 27/02/2025 10:55

I agree with you OP.

Plus we're broke as a country. Lovely to saddle all those kids with higher taxes and generational debt by spending more than we have.

Itisbetter · 27/02/2025 10:48

So basically you feel that poor children should be cared for and fed away from their parents as much as possible?

No. I think that’s an appalling idea.

SlipDigby · 27/02/2025 10:43

Sure there are some feckless folk around but people generally know their own needs better than governments and just giving them cash is usually the best way of ensuring those needs are met.

Case in point - most of your suggestions would only at best indirectly help someone needing to provide for an under 5 year old and even then only if they are funded and function adequately which these sorts of things seldom do.

TickingAlongNicely · 27/02/2025 10:33

The issue seems to be schemes are launched but not funded properly.
Like the nursery hours... top ups are banned, but its sort of accepted they happen because the funding doesn't match running costs.
Or these new breakfast clubs... they are paying for the food but not the staff.