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

I think child benefit should be universal

The birth rate is low, not many people are having more than 2 dc if that so it’s a moot point really.

If UC were enough for a family with 2 children to live on properly, I don’t think it’s unreasonable to cap it at that. However, UC is not enough and for families to make it stretch in these circumstances is putting families in poverty.

I have 2 children, I would have loved 4/5 however I couldn't afford it. So I had a contraceptive coil. It's not rocket science.

I think a portion of those with large families are religious (particularly Islam in my area) so there may be cultural/faith reasons people have large families. (Catholics 50years ago in Ireland tended to have large numbers of children ). This behaviour may stem partly from human eras where child mortality was high and you were reliant on children for care in your dotage

I think the benefit cap may temper unrealistic ideas of family size promoted by faith and may make some look at contraception in a more westernised light.

I have 4dc wasn't on any benefits but when ds was just over a year old my xdh decided to leave because it was hard work. I had to go on benefits and believe I deserved it for all 4 (this was before the cap) I was only on them for just under a year and now only have 1 dc who relies on me as others all adults. Also get dla for ds. My point being before xdh left we paid a lot into the system and it wouldn't of been fair to cap things for me because I had a bigger family. I chose to have 4dc and could afford them but my xdh left because nu 4 was different, my ds was later diagnosed with autism and other things.

Even trying to raise two children could still be a big struggle for someone whose circumstances have changed, since having them. Obviously less of a struggle than trying to raise four children, I know.

Think you are out of touch with how much childcare costs have risen and the lack of availability of childcare. My two year old can't start nursery until September. Quite a few parents especially mothers are giving up their jobs whilst the OH works with a UC top up due to the costs etc of childcare.

Even Suella Braverman wants to see the 2 child limit removed. It's a tough one, on one hand I think people should take personal responsibility but on the other children shouldn't be living in poverty.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/may/14/labour-child-poverty-suella-braverman-keir-starmer

Is it not in place to discourage those who rely solely on state benefits from.bring more children into the world that they have no means to support? (Apart from the good old British tax payer that is!!)
I watched a programme on TV last week about child poverty, one woman on who had 5 children, 2 with complex needs, she knew there was a cap on the benefits yet still brought 2 more children into the world, despite knowing her benefits wouldn't rise .So she was struggling to feed and clothe them
Now call me cynical and hand me my arse of you wish, but.......
She knew anyway but still did it

Can we quit with the change of circumstances shite. We know people are getting pregnant while on benefits with insufficient funds. There is even baby banks for pregnant people in poverty.
I am not denying change of circumstances can happen but seems on Mumsnet that this is the case for every child in poverty.

Would you rather no baby banks then? Mass abortions if your situation isn't perfect? May as well provide those things because people will still have children and they shouldn't suffer.

@WithACatLikeTread I believe that contraceptives are widely available and free in the UK

I am aware.

I wouldn't punish children with poverty because their parents want more children than they can afford.

It should be scrapped and yes, people do really need the money.

I doubt many of us plan to live below the poverty line. It's all very well saying people should cut their cloth and not have more children than they can afford, but circumstances can change remarkably quickly. People can lose jobs and be unable to get another; partners can suddenly leave, develop a long-term illness or die; children can get critical illnesses that require a year or more in hospital (with at least one parent needing to give up their career to become a carer) etc.

There are some sobering facts on the Joseph Rowntree Foundation website for anyone who actually wants to look into the current stats on poverty in the UK...

https://www.jrf.org.uk/uk-poverty-2024-the-essential-guide-to-understanding-poverty-in-the-uk

People living in destitution should be supported. And minimum wage jobs will never be enough to claw anyone out of poverty.

This is where the argument fails, having children that you can't afford guarantees the child will suffer! So why have a policy to encourage it, the logic is flawed