will you have another baby if the two child limit is scrapped?

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I’m just curious what the results of this would be, if you could have another baby financially due to this being scrapped, will you?
before it becomes a benefit bashing thread, remember the majority of people claiming do work. Keep it civil and polite please 🙏
Im done having kids and I can see why they want it to be scrapped with the cost of living issues.

(Not that we can predict what’ll happen with benefits more broadly of course)

I second this! Absolutely shocking

No. I didn’t make choices about having children based on how much in benefits I could get (I don’t get any benefits btw). But it’s not like the teeny bit extra someone might get covers the cost of raising a child, so I hope no one is basing that decision on how much more in benefits they could get.

It's not really a teeny bit extra it can be quite bit.

Well that could quickly go wrong, I was privately renting a year ago and was evicted when he sold couldn’t find any other rented place that I could afford so had to get a mortgage which obviously you don’t get help with

I think people are being quite naive about the system as a whole, certainly how it was anyway, and other people’s lives. I don’t think people actively procreated for money, but there was a safety net that meant they didn’t have to overly think or worry about it. They wanted a child, so they had a child. I think people are viewing this through a somewhat middle class lens and are a bit naive to how others think and feel, bringing up university for example demonstrates that well.

If you are reliant on benefits to fund your third child you should not be having one. I like many have 2 children because that’s all we could afford without benefits.

im not anti benefits if you fall on hard times, but having a third child knowing you need benefits is irresponsible

The point is nobody knows. If Reform get in expect everything to turn upside down and inside out. Relying on a benefit remaining unscathed in a terrible financial climate is a dangerous game. We are absolutely stony broke.

Completely agree we get UC so I know that some payments depending on individual circumstances are not insignificant
I also think some posters seem to think its about child benefit not the child element of universal credit.

Oh indeed, I don’t disagree.

For those saying their child or children of families going for a third child if cap is scrapped won’t be encourage to go/or won’t go to university, this Government is proposing that 2 thirds of young people will go to university or into some form of training after sixth form, so might not have that choice not to go if they want to work in many sectors.

You see many posts on MN from horrified parents suddenly realising how much university is going to cost them and they have more than 2 children

I think it is wrong for people to expect/rely on the govt to pay via benefits for more children , I believe the limit at two children for child benefit is reasonable as it does not deny those who want to start having a family but funding more than this I think would not be a good step. I don’t it is in the address of the existing children, the additional children that they may have, the entire family, the government budget and all those who are tax to support them.

There are plenty ways it could be done.

In fact with the political to use the powers they have (and the funding for adequate staffing) CMS could be very effective.

The issue is there is no societal push for it therefore no need for politicians (of any party) to pretend they care.

Don't get it currently so wouldn't benefit. I would need house prices to be cheaper to have a 3rd dc.

Can I point out the two child limit has never been for "Child Benefit" (previously known as Family Allowance).

Which was universal

I think it's a good thing if it gets the birth rate up by making a wanted third baby a possibility for some but this isn't just a money based decision.

One birth rates have fallen below replacement rate no country has managed to increase them even within much heftier incentives that the 3rd child cap.

Loads tbh but no one would say it.

When @Grilledxribs?

I wouldn’t have another baby if my life depended on it 😂 I love my two dearly but absolutely fucking no

I'm not convinced it would reverse it either. It just seems really odd that politicians are fretting about the birth rate and yet still have policies like this.

I assume that the point of the 2-child cap was to lower the birthrate for those on benefits, thus lowering the number of children in poverty as fewer exist (and lowering the tax burden for those funding the programme). I don't know the data on this - did the policy have the desired effect? Or did the birthrate among those claiming benefits stay the same or rise?

The OP's question kind of assumes that people know at the point of conception that they will be relying on UC. And make financially responsible decisions based on that.

Of course many families fall into poverty after having children (divorce/relationship dissolves, redundancy, illness, etc).

I oppose the cap, but then I work with impoverished children.

Not sure your point.
It's not universal now as there is a cap based on income.
But people frequently confuse "Child Benefit" (which for a 3rd child will be about £11 a week) and "Child Element" of UC which is much more.

I think it is wrong for people to expect/rely on the govt to pay via benefits for more children ,

But so many in previous generations relied on social housing to support their families. I find it interesting how there has been such a switch

People can only go to university if they are academically able enough to go it doesn't matter what the government are proposing .

Social housing isn't a benefit.

I'm not convinced it would reverse it either. It just seems really odd that politicians are fretting about the birth rate and yet still have policies like this.

The ship has sailed, demographically we are pretty fucked which is economically sustainable. Governments have ignored this and relied on immigration but that has not gone down so well...