Impact of 2-child benefit cap on abortion decisions

Incidentally introduced when the minister concerned was a Roman Catholic, Iain Duncan Smith.

Of course we should keep the cap.
I always remember my sis, her DH and their 3 children in a 2 bed starter home they both worked so all bought and mortaged paid for.
A lady we chatted to at school didn't work, her DH didn't work (except a bit of cash in hand), but they were trying for a 3rd child as it would get them a larger home.
Child poverty is inexcusable, but the 2 child cap means we must take responsibility.

I don't know why Covid would change the cap? I haven't ever claimed anything, I have two children and couldn't afford more.

I can see why it’s a sensitive point, anything regarding abortion is but I think it’s fair to keep the cap and it was the right decision.

It’s brings families on benefits in line with families not on benefits. It’s more equal in terms of help.

I must admit I'm in favour of a cap, those of us who work know that we need to be able to afford our kids, I stuck at 2 because we couldn't afford more .

I’m not sure how much covid comes into it. The cap doesn’t apply to children who were born before it came in, so only people who knew about the cap when they had their children will be impacted in the way you talk about.

I also didn’t think the cap covered things like free school meals? May be wrong.

I’m in two minds about this. There have always been families who have had abortions because they knew they couldn’t afford or offer adequate support to additional children. These are families which likely supported themselves and don’t count on receiving anything from the state.

Now the 2 child benefit cap means that people who do rely on benefits have to think about whether they can actually afford children in the same way that everyone else does.

That said I agree it’s very sad. It’s sad that anyone would have to make the choice between having enough food to eat or keeping a baby that they my desperately want.

I’m pro choice but don’t underestimate how upsetting having an abortion must be. My guess is that in the first instance the government hoped that people would rely more contraceptives than abortions.

Why is this seen as a problem? All kinds of families have to make decisions about whether they can afford an unplanned third child, not just ones on benefits.
I was glad about the two child cap - it prevents abusive men fathering endless children on trapped abused women in order to live it up on the benefits - which they have no intention of spending on the poor wife or kids.

And I remember my own hospital ancillary staff being angry at patients on benefits with six children, while they could barely afford two on their salary. The cap is perfectly reasonable- nobody needs more than two kids, and our planet is already overpopulated and suffering environmental damage and global warming as a result.