Labour are lifting the 2 child benefit cap

[PuppyKeep]

AIBU that this is a terrible decision?

Get in! I can have three more now!

The cap was always horrific. As someone who has fallen pregnant twice whilst on contraception absolutely no one should feel pressured to abortion because they'll be unable to feed the child. In this modern era in a wealthy western country, it's disgusting.
And the cap just entrenches poverty. As higher birthrate are linked to poverty. It makes the issues worse. Because those kids don't even stand a chance.

Some sources:

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/sep/30/rachel-reeves-lift-two-child-benefit-cap-november-budget

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/two-child-benefit-cap-bridget-phillipson-labour-b2836482.html

https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-politics/2025/09/is-the-government-about-to-lift-the-two-child-benefit-cap

I hope she doesn't, I thought benefits were to be reduced, not increased.

If she does that and raises taxes again it will be the end for Labour.

But like so many things we can’t actually afford it! Yes there’ll be some people who are unlucky with contraception but as someone who only had one child because I knew we couldn’t afford a second I don’t want to pay for others to have as many as they like without the same consideration.

Finally they have done something right! The two child cap only served to keep children in poverty, which is abhorrent in a country as developed as ours. Also the pps point of no one being pushed towards feeling like they need to abort because of finances is a salient point. My child was also conceived on the pill. I would have been devastated if I'd felt I'd had to abort because I couldn't afford to feed him

I think its good.

But how she gonna finance it??????

You sure? People who receive child benefit vote, and there’s a lot of them.

I’m conflicted.

Children shouldn’t live in poverty. It’s not their fault they are in that situation. Studies show when not in poverty, their outcomes are better.

But… most households now are making difficult decisions around family size because of affordability.

So - i am not sure it’s right to give unlimited benefits to the family with seven kids who could never afford it, while the dual-working household with a mortgage have had to stick to one because they don’t feel they can sensibly afford another.

It’s encouraging entitlement, recklessness and shitty parenting.

Kids should not be in poverty. This lifting is a good thing.

The only safe contraception is abstention. No contraceptive is 100% foolproof and that’s a chance everyone takes when they have sex

Why should the tax payer pick up the tab?

The two child cap should stay , how on earth is it going to be funded when the economy only is crashing

I agree.

Ive voted Labour my entire life. If this goes through, they’ve lost my vote and membership.

It's not child benefit though, I thought there was no cap on that, it's UC isn't it.

is an extra £17 a week towards the 3/4/5 child really going to lift these families out of poverty sufficiently to break the cycle they may find themselves in?

How is the economy “crashing”?

Admittedly, it’s not pulling up trees, but where’s your evidence that it’s “crashing”?

Is this just for women?

It’s not child benefit, it’s the child element of universal credit. Regular child benefit has never been capped at two children. And yes, I am sure.

I agree. I suspect it’s already the end for them tbh.

Not only failing to address welfare spending but actually increasing it - particularly with the lens that this will be viewed through of ‘paying people to have kids they knee they can’t afford’… plus the immigration angle…

I think the swing voters will be looking at this with raised eyebrows, as their tax bill goes up yet again.

Yes, it’s UC. Sorry my title was misleading. I meant child related benefits. And they’re worth a lot more ££s!

No one is having dc for extra benefits

Confusingly it’s not actually child benefit (which they already get) but UC which I read can be up to £290 per child.

I think this is divisive and will be unpopular with a lot of people who have limited their family size due to financial constraints

Oh cool, she must have found the magic money tree to fill the £40 billion black hole and increase the welfare bill without breaking her fiscal rules. Wonder who will be paying for it?