Do you think we should life the two child benefit cap?

And it isn't the fault of those children, or indeed their older siblings, if their parents have - for whatever reason - had more children than they can realistically afford. Those children deserve to flourish and thrive as much as any other child deserves to flourish and thrive, and frankly, we need to invest in them so that they don't get stuck in the same poverty trap that has caught their parents.

But throwing money at the parents is short sighted. It's not so much finances as education and opportunity that stops children thriving. My children aren't happy and developing simply because we are moderately well off. Its because we take them to a good preschool, at home we read every day, we model going out to work abd cooking fresh home cooked food. My children go to school full of scrambled eggs or porridge and fruit, not coco pops. They have structure and routine. They visit museums, have swimming and tennis lessons etc etc. Yes money helps with sports lessons and fresh fruit bur I wouldn't be a better parent if you gave me a bit more money.

Motivate these people to glwprk, educate the children, feed them nutritional foods Sotherton aren't overweight and unfit. Learn to cook, budget, play with the children, read, do phonics, get them to school on time and turn off the TV. Invest in services to support families to lift out of poverty. Don't chuck a few pounds at someone and expect it to transform them. It's a lazy approach and counterproductive. Teach a man to fish so to speak.

Any money families do have above a basic amount should be in voucher form so it can be spent on whole foods, not chicken nuggets and breakfast cereal and to ensure it goes on food, utilities, school uniform, transport and books. That ensures money is spent properly on essentials. It helps reduce the monetary poverty and stops children starving, whilst ensuring that benefits are not a free ride.

Money could be taken from else where like the CMS it's not fit for purpose. Theres loads of threads posting on here that either their ex moves jobs, is a higher earn or pays £20 a week its ridiculous.

You follow poor people on you tube? There is no way you work. You have far too much time on your hands. Get a job. It will benefit you in the long run. You tube 🤦‍♀️

I would like to see people in poverty not having children then bleating the government should pay more to get children out of poverty.

They are raising the FSM limit to all families on UC from September 2026.

This would probably go down better.

I grew up on a rough council estate (there were burnt out cars on the green spaces) in the 80s and 90s and there absolutely ARE families where the parents will blow every penny the state gives them. Its incredibly depressing to see. Its a Progressive article of faith that This Never Happens but it does. Which is why I'd rather see the money go into schools, clothes & food vouchers, decent SEND provision and good social / affordable housing.

I agree, although sorting the housing crisis would be more beneficial. I don't know how people on low incomes can afford the ridiculous rents being charged alongside the rising costs of everything else.

We are spending enough on welfare as it is. Keep the cap and drop the pensions triple lock. Raise the FSM limit, it's ridiculously low right now. Put some money into schools.

It’s a great thing imo Anne.

The ones who don't work are affected by the benefit cap so the ones you are mainly talking about won't get endless benefits. The low income workers who claim will not be affected as working and earning a certain lifts the cap.

Correct. It's £100 per month for those in receipt of UC.

Can I just add that you’ve been on here all day ranting about people living in poverty. I had a two hour nap (the wonderful benefit of retirement) plus made a lovely dinner. The people working for minimum wage who have children don’t have those options. Unlike you, they are actually working 🤦‍♀️

You don't nessarily get all the child elements either in the final payment as it is often deducted when taking into account wages deductions.

You are ignoring that a benefit cap still exists. Lifting the 2 child limit but retaining the benefit cap would ease some of the pressures on low income families with more than 2 children but still limit welfare entitlement. It will not be the case that you get endless amount of money.

Maybe Tory ones? We have another benefit in Scotland which will blow your mind. It’s called “The Scottish Child Payment” which has been universally recognised as one that is lifting children out of poverty. I’m proud that my Govt introduced it.

No £17 wouldn't reflect a meaningful increase in income ,however it isn't £17 because it isn't CHILD BENEFIT, it ,s the child element of universal credit which is significantly more.

Either work to pay for them or don't have them! Even on minimum wage a full time job pays nearly 24k. Even if mum and dad are both on minimum wage that's certainly not living in poverty! It shouldn't be an option to be a "full time mummy" and expect the tax payer to fund it.

You do realise this applies to working parents claiming UC?

Sweet fuck all and Educational Maintenance Allowance.