Labour are lifting the 2 child benefit cap

[PuppyKeep]

AIBU that this is a terrible decision?

YABU. Birth rates continue to fall. Most women don't have more than 2 children. The cost to the public purse is insignificant.

Or spend it on a Daily Mail subscription like you appear to do.

I agree - we are already staring down the barrel of mass unemployment. We really don’t need more people!!

Yep just watch out for this when doing policy today. It’s a long lag time, longer than each parliamentary term.

@EasternStandard what's easy to see. Why is AI going to save the west from the huge change in demographics? Could you link to something that says AI will complete offset this and we don't need any dc?

Anyone saying we need more dc though, I don’t* think* so

We don't need more dc but a progressive and wealthier society requires a more even demographic mix. Or do you disagree?

THIS IS NOT ABOUT CHILD BENEFIT

THIS IS ABOUT UNIVERSAL CREDIT

I don't think Ive ever seen a thread where so many people were talking about a completely different thing

I agree. People who are already on Universal Credit and cant afford 2 children, why are we paying them to have more? Their existing children dont need more siblings, for limited family resources to be divided with more siblings. Its a really poor decision.

I've worked with people claiming UC top ups and their reasons for not working more are astounding.

I honestly doubt the kids that are brought up by families on benefits will ever be working as they don't have a good example from their parents, they will claim benefits themselves in the future and not paying for our state pensions

Only of a certain shade, though.

I voted Labour at the election but I’m opposed to this. The Tories’ argument when they introduced the cap was correct : Why shouldn’t people who live on benefits face the same financial choices & tradeoffs over having more children that people who work for a living do?

Having said that, I do understand why Labour think this is good politics. Women of childbearing age are obviously a key voter demographic for them.

Nail on the head. We were workers and not claiming UC etc., but we stopped at having 1 child as we couldn't afford another. It really grates when benefit claimants have more children they can't afford, in the knowledge that the taxpayer will subsidise them.

You can but you have to pay it back if you earn over a specific threshold.

It’s worth claiming though because if mum or dad are at home looking after the kids, it entitles them to valuable pension credits.

The Universal Credit child element is currently £292.81 per month, that is £3,513.72 per year for each child.

It's currently capped at 2 children. So a a parent on Universal Credit entilted to the child element gets an extra £585.62 a month or £7,027.44.

If the cap is lifted without the amounts changing, then a family on Universal credit gets extra:

£10,541.16 for 3 children
£14,054.88 for 4 children
£17,568.60 for 5 children
£21,082.32 for 6 children

Tax free.

This is not fair on taxpayers or people earning just over minimum wage who can't claim universal credit. To those workers who can't afford any children or only one, who given a choice would love more.

You have remembered that you and all these benefit claim children will get old one day.

True, but fortunately not all that receive child benefit are imbeciles that think money grows on trees.

Doubt it they probably cant read.

I don't think Ive ever seen a thread where so many people were talking about a completely different thing

it's even funnier that so many are saying this will drive voters to Reform when it's a Reform policy 😆

Doubt it they probably cant read

You don't need to be able to read to read the Daily Mail!

I’m not sure about that. It’s more likely for the party to leave Reeves and Starmer in place.

You have remembered that you and all these benefit claim children will get old one day.

You think old people never received benefits? 🤔. The youth of today won't be getting the same current deal that's for sure.

It probably will tbf. They did lose support when they announced it but now Labour are doing it they’ll switch back.

I have known plenty that have and still do have kids for money housing and benefits.
I also have known a few that have had children kick the men out just to get CM.
More than meets the eye to a lot of women.
Then again its not me having to deal with them and raise them.
Benefits dont last for ever.
But some will keep popping them out as soon as one is to old to claim for.

Precisely, but it appears Labour haven’t looked at the projections nor the fact that AI is moving even faster than anyone thought. Try getting a job as a linguist or translator for example! Xx

You started it. Or does insulting poor people not count?