Should Labour abolish the two child benefit cap?

[changefromhr]

In two minds about this. Yes for those who find themselves on benefits after having more than two children (job loss, divorce etc) but perhaps not for those who choose to have more than two children when they have never worked (disabled families excepted).

https://www.theguardian.com/society/article/2024/jul/11/uk-two-child-benefit-cap-affected-1-6-million-children-last-year-figures-show

@Blossomtoes, I know you know how hard it is to look after the children of people who cannot be bothered (or are incompetent) to look after themselves. We ALL want the best for all children. For heaven's sake, even I am not perfect

That was tongue in cheek... I just couldn't find the emoji!

@CherryBombe you can I'm sure though see how it seems unfair to many modestly paid single mums getting nothing or next to nothing help wise to have others getting full benefits plus quite substantial sums on top and in many cases regular as clockwork - thing is if it's spousal the same situation applies- except it is counted - ex husbands situation can change and you can be left with sod all and a big gap -

Yes. Because child poverty. And we are every child's village.

@notbelieved I see it all the time in my work

Sorry I think you’ve inferred wrongly, I’m not a single mother and my partner works full time. But even so because children are a blessing and the best thing you can do with your life.

Sure, and I think that for those who view cultural homogenity as a particular concern, they have two options: (1) accept that, in order to have a culturally homogeneous society, birth rates need to be at the replacement rate at least (and, given that the UK birth rate is well below the replacement rate, this requires (among other things) making it financially easier for people have larger families, or (2) accept that societal collapse is inevitable but slow the pace of it by slashing public spending, significantly increasing taxes (rising exponentially over time) and significantly raising the retirement age. When presented with those two options, I think most would prefer the first option if it can be achieved.

Making it more affordable for people to have larger families is not a cure-all, though. Women in particular are still choosing to have smaller families- likely due to career aspirations. Balancing out maternity and paternity leave would probably help (so that women are less disadvantaged in comparison to men) but again, I don't know if it's enough.

Give carers more incentive - decent training and £15 per hr - encourage families to care more like they used to - get the euthanasia issues sorted properly- there sorted and no need to import people from 3rd world who don't share our culture our history and love for our oldies

We should not abolish the benefit cap. We should encourage women to have one or no children. The idea that we need masses of people to keep the population stable is nonsense in these days of AI and automation, where will the jobs be for these people?

Did the child benefit cap decrease your income by that amount because you have 6 children ? Or did the child benefit cap decrease your other benefits ? Genuine question as I’ve no idea how the system works.

I think the birth rate argument doesn’t hold water because it is quite clear to most people that something is going a little wrong with child rearing these days. Ask any teacher. English children (and many adults ) are struggling behaviourally.

Society in general seems angrier and less civil. Many children are caught in a cycle of benefits and families where no one has ever worked and some of these children will go on to live as their parents have. On benefits and out of work.

So they will not be able or willing to support an ageing population in health care roles. It is naive to think if we produce more children they will go on to be productive members of society.

Like I said, I had 3 children, all OK till ex walked. Was on tax credits for years, despite more than full time work. What partner that makes me - and the thousands like me - irresponsible and not caring about my kids?

@notbelieved nobody is talking about people who have kids in good circumstances and things change. It's undeniable that many people who are on benefits are not like this

No it will cost too much taxes for normal people who didn't have a say in the situation what should be done is forcing dead beat baby daddies to actually pay a decent amount of money towards the children they created. This country is really weak on making them pay maintenance look at how it's done in the USA.

Exceptions could be made were one parent has died btw kind of like widow allowance but there's a whole thing around that just being for if they were married couples who have been together decades can't get it

No.

When you had your children you believed you could afford that many but why did you have 3?

How is society looking after them by giving the parents more money when there is absolutely no guarantee that the money will be spent on the children?

If a couple can only afford 1 or 2 children but have 3, 4 or more then they are irresponsible and don't care enough about their children. I don't honestly see how you can argue with that

Honestly, no. It isn't for the state to pick up on people's choices to have a third, 4th or 5th child.

However, no child should live in poverty. I would wholeheartedly support free breakfast clubs, expanded free school meals, or raise the income tax threshold to support on other ways.

Of course I can argue with it. I don’t believe there are more than a handful of people who don’t care about their children and we have an obligation as a civilised society to look after all children, especially those who are disadvantaged because their parents “don’t care about them”.

"A handful of people who don't care about their children" what across the whole country? Are you for real?

The problem is lazy parenting, food take away culture, not being able to cook healthy meals, fathers not named on birth certificates, poor budgeting skills, undeclared partners, I could go on - I work in Housing.

Totally real. I’m wondering the same about you.

No.

There is literally post after post about people with large families being irresponsible, having babies they can’t afford, not caring about their kids, not spending benefit money on children etc etc etc. These posts are not discriminating between people who have fallen on hard times and those who may be making some poor life choices. Most of us are flying by the seat of our pants and a good decision today might prove bad at some point down the line. Way too many people feeling superior, happy to put down others without thinking of the wider picture of many people’s lives. And way too many people who think they are better than the rest of us because they ‘work hard’. It is important that people see many people ‘on benefits’ are ordinary people doing their best.

The problem is lazy parenting, food take away culture, not being able to cook healthy meals, fathers not named on birth certificates, poor budgeting skills, undeclared partners, I could go on - I work in Housing

You know that if parents are unmarried, a father needs to attend the birth registration appointment, don’t you?