Cap on child benefit

[rkahic]

The Archbishop of Canterbury has called for the current cap on child benefit only being paid for the first two children to end, wondered what people think of it, is it a sensible measure or do people really need the money

No, but when family planning people should take all possible scenarios into account.
If you can’t guarantee your income or don’t have sufficient savings to tie you over should something bad happen, stick to 2.

The Government shouldn’t have unlimited liability for those who endlessly have kids with no proper thought for how they’re going to be paid for.

It has been increased to 80

Thanks @longdistanceclaraclara I missed that increase.

@Deathbyfluffy I think that's a bit unfair to say that. People don't have a crystal ball to predict the future.
In the last few years several well established companies that have existed for decades have gone bust and people have lost jobs.
People have taken employment in what would have been considered a safe and secure job.
In my home town a factory has recently closed and 100s lost their jobs.
This was a factory that several decades ago purposely moved families to the town - housing was built under government schemes to move people from cities.
This was considered a secure, safe and reasonably decent paid job and some of the workers there were the 4th generation of families to work there.
Then suddenly - WHAM - before Christmas the factory announced it was closing down.

I think it’s fine and should stay. People should take some responsibility for their lives and finances. A working couple (and yes I know that working couples can be in receipt of top-up benefits too) sometimes have to make difficult decisions about whether they can afford a 3rd or 4th child. People who don’t work and rely solely on benefits shouldn’t just be able to have large families of 5 or 6 kids knowing they will get more money each time.

I think he is targeting the wrong thing. As PPs have said if you can't afford 3+ children don't have them. Far better for the ABoC to lead a moral crusade against fathers who duck their responsibilites (financial and otherwise) and the fact that firms can pay so little families with 2 parents in full time work need benefits to make ends meet and the morality of landlords being able charge extortionate rents on family homes in many parts of the country, not maintain said properties properly and evict well behaved tenants almost at will if they think they can up the rent significantly that way.

I think the two child cap is reasonable. If you have more then 2 then you can still get disability premiums for a child even if you don't get the standard child element for that child and you can get childcare costs paid for all kids so it's not like they are taking away all support. you could also have a big gap and have 3 kids and when your eldest drops off the claim at 16 or 18 then you can start getting paid for the younger child that you didn't previously so really not that bad.
The more kids people have the harder it is for both parents to work and the more reliant they are on benefits so I don't think it's unreasonable to have a cap.

The only cap is on the child element of UC

You still get child benefit for every child. You still get childcare support for any child on your claim even if they don’t get the child element . Also if a child gets dla you still get the disability element for them.

It's not about you though. It's not about me as I don't claim child benefit but so many families are stuck on benefits because the childcare costs make it impossible to work.
It's degrading.

I think you need to plan ahead if having a large family. You can’t expect the taxpayer to pick up the bill. I’m a single mom- I stopped at 2 because I couldn’t comfortably afford more.

Universal credit covers almost all childcare costs (no 2 kid limit) and there are also free nursery provision. I don’t believe anyone is stuck on benefits because of childcare costs - in most cases those who can’t afford to work are those who aren’t entitled to benefits and thus won’t get childcare paid.

@kitsuneghost but it's almost impossible to claim benefits if you don't work due to lack of childcare (ie being a SAHM to pre school children).
I don't understand what benefits you are referring to.

I don't think that it is difficult at all. No, children should not suffer because of circumstances that they have absolutely no control over.

@User2460177 see my post above about a factory closing down.
How can people honestly predict whether their job is going to be safe and secure for life.
No one can.

Probably best to stick at two then unless you are in a career where you know you'll never struggle to find work.

Those that had the amount of children that they can afford, do they not understand that circumstance can change, and what was affordable, can become unaffordable.

@Miley1967 well that's a bit dystopian in my opinion.
So only people with careers can have more than two children.
God forbid people who work in warehouses, factories or retail should want more than 2.
You know - jobs that actually keep the country going.
Sorry but I am a bit sensitive today because my family finances might be changing soon and we could potentially be losing money.
Maybe I should have planned better and not given birth to a child who turned out to have a disability......🙁🙄

Just to clarify, child benefit starts being paid back at 60k - at 80k it’s all due to be repaid

You can absolutely have as many kids as you can afford. I think two is a fair limit Whalen asking the taxpayer to pay though. There is no limit for disability benefits as you know.

I absolutely do understand that. That’s why I stuck at two kids.

No you can't but you can take reasonable precaution.
I don't predict crashing my car but I have insurance and wear a seat belt.

You could be both more generous and harsher at the same time. Unlimited children paid for if working 37 hours per week with childcare contribution when the child is born with 100% work commitment. So if you give up work you have X weeks to find a new job or you will basically be assigned one or lose your benefits. You could offer incentives to employers to take on these people.

Zero if the child is born to a parent claiming benefits and working less than 37 hours.

I didn't actually say what you are making out I said. If someone works in a warehouse there is a good chance that they will find another job pretty quickly. And I specifically mentioned in an earlier post that there is always help for a disabled child regardless of the number of children in a family. Sorry yes I think you are being sensitive because of your situation and I hope all works out for you as it must be a worry.

@User2460177 my point is a family where one adult works full time in a well established factory and the other is - for example - working as a full time retail worker at a retailer that has existed for decades should be able to consider their life is secure enough to be able to live and have 3 children if they want 3 children.
They SHOULD have a living wage. They SHOULD have a secure place to live.
Unfortunately life in the last few years has proved this wrong.
As for disability benefits - they are hard to get.
They are not guaranteed.
Anyway.....as I said I'm a bit sensitive today due to potential changes in my life so I am going to leave this thread.
Bye all.

I've stuck at 2. As much as I would love another baby. They grow up