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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Labour are lifting the 2 child benefit cap

1000 replies

PuppyKeep · 30/09/2025 18:43

AIBU that this is a terrible decision?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
16
lessglittermoremud · 30/09/2025 20:39

ToodleP1P · 30/09/2025 20:35

Yes I saw that thread.
They were claiming within the rules though and seemed to still get a lot of judgement about it. I also saw a thread from someone who was worried about her boyfriend staying over when she was on UC, and she was told she was not allowed to make him a cup of tea in her house.
MN is the worst place to get benefits advice.

Yes they were within the rules but I’m not surprised the op was given a hard time, many of us don’t want to have to use childcare but we do because we have to earn enough money to live which means we pay taxes, to help someone who doesn’t want to use childcare work less hours… it is a bit bonkers!

clipboardz · 30/09/2025 20:39

@EasternStandard so how is one supposed to know if you don't specify?

Thisiswhatitsoundslike81 · 30/09/2025 20:39

Figgygal · 30/09/2025 18:51

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?

It's not child benefit, it's additional hundreds a month in universal credit.

Nestingbirds · 30/09/2025 20:40

And if this policy has received this kind of reception on a forum for mothers, Lord only knows how this is going to go down with the rest of the country. As we hit another winter with energy and food bills rocketing.

MrsSkylerWhite · 30/09/2025 20:40

Holluschickie · 30/09/2025 20:30

Flight of high taxpayers come November...

Edited

To where?

We've been high-rate tax payers for decades. Haven’t left, other than fairly short periods for work, because we love it here, it’s home. That means something.

clipboardz · 30/09/2025 20:40

@EasternStandard And have you got another about AI making up for the ageing population?

Bumblebee72 · 30/09/2025 20:40

ToodleP1P · 30/09/2025 20:28

But a lot of people will never be net contributors at all. Ever. Are they not allowed kids?

No one is saying they can't have kids - just that they should stick to two.

clipboardz · 30/09/2025 20:41

anything (my predictive text keeps changing)

luckylavender · 30/09/2025 20:41

MalinandGo · 30/09/2025 19:30

Hopefully they will buy them all a flat screen TV each.

How many TVs do you see that aren’t flat screen anymore? Such an old trope.

Bilbo63 · 30/09/2025 20:41

The statistics show that when you could claim for more than two children when tax credits were around most people chose to have two. You can look at child benefit statistics going back decades and there are studies on this. Large families are in the minority in the UK and benefit increases do not encourage people to reproduce at alarming rates.

Teenage pregnancy rates have dropped dramatically as well. I work with youth 18+ - have a case load of 150+ in a very deprived area - only have two pregnant ones on my case load currently. This has been a trend for decades and nothing to do with the introduction of UC. You can claim benefits at 16 if you have a baby - it has not encouraged teenagers to get pregnant - the numbers are minimal still.

ThisTicklishFatball · 30/09/2025 20:41

I think it's a great decision. People should have children based on their financial situation. If someone can afford three or more kids, that's great. Those with less money understand their reality and shouldn't be unhappy or resentful toward those in better circumstances. People definitely deserve better salaries. The country needs the funds to make that possible too.

@smilingfanatic

You dislike your father but seem eager to inherit his money and property, probably planning a big party when he passes.

Taking pensions from pensioners to fix child poverty? Utterly ridiculous. Barbara from accounts shouldn’t have to fill out a Bond villain-style interrogation form just to turn on the heating. And punishing granny because she’s got a John Lewis sofa and a paid-off semi? Please.

Means-testing sounds clever until the admin costs swallow half the budget and poor Doris is left sobbing while proving she hasn’t got gold bars in the airing cupboard. Your dad being minted doesn’t mean everyone’s dad is. Plenty of pensioners are choosing between heating and ham sandwiches while Westminster squabbles.

If you want real cash, tax actual wealth—not the £200 that keeps an 80-year-old alive in January. Let’s be real: Labour supporters aren’t letting go of their luxuries, and the middle classes will insist their one car is what keeps them “just about managing.”

Everyone wants fairness—as long as it’s someone else footing the bill.

The country needs funding, but taking pensions isn’t the right solution. A better approach would be for everyone to contribute by paying significantly higher taxes on everything, including food. This way, the responsibility is shared by everyone rather than burdening one group.

ToodleP1P · 30/09/2025 20:41

Bumblebee72 · 30/09/2025 20:40

No one is saying they can't have kids - just that they should stick to two.

And if they have more, then they should starve?

Ratherhavefreedom · 30/09/2025 20:42

ToodleP1P · 30/09/2025 20:30

No, you choose to work 40-60 hours. No one at all is making you do that apart from you.

You are so right i should stop working and have a bunch of kids and live on benefits and let others pay for them and me.
Why should i work when i can get housing and money for free all i have to do is have kids.

Nestingbirds · 30/09/2025 20:42

MrsSkylerWhite · 30/09/2025 20:40

To where?

We've been high-rate tax payers for decades. Haven’t left, other than fairly short periods for work, because we love it here, it’s home. That means something.

I think you are wrong. People have had enough. I can think of a long list of international options that are far more appealing than this country with Labour bankrupting us.

Bumblebee72 · 30/09/2025 20:43

ToodleP1P · 30/09/2025 20:41

And if they have more, then they should starve?

They shouldn't have more. It's all about personal responsibility.

Ratherhavefreedom · 30/09/2025 20:43

ToodleP1P · 30/09/2025 20:41

And if they have more, then they should starve?

If anyone wants more kids than they can afford maybe they need to think about a comdom.

Yeppppp · 30/09/2025 20:43

ComfortFoodCafe · 30/09/2025 20:21

So basically we are putting the disabled into further poverty so Betsy down the road can pop out 3 more kids for benefits.
wtf.

Edited

You need to get off Betsy’s back. She had a tough time when Keith left her, and she’s finally met someone decent. I know Bernard isn’t a looker but he’ll be a good dad.

MrsSkylerWhite · 30/09/2025 20:43

Bumblebee72 · 30/09/2025 20:40

No one is saying they can't have kids - just that they should stick to two.

One of the more sensible comments on this thread.
Whats wrong with having two children?
In terms of sustainability, any more probably isn’t wise if you care about the future those children are going to have.

Princessconsuelabananahammock9 · 30/09/2025 20:43

ToodleP1P · 30/09/2025 20:41

And if they have more, then they should starve?

If you can’t afford more kids why would you have them?

Bumblebee72 · 30/09/2025 20:44

Ratherhavefreedom · 30/09/2025 20:42

You are so right i should stop working and have a bunch of kids and live on benefits and let others pay for them and me.
Why should i work when i can get housing and money for free all i have to do is have kids.

Some posters think you are a fool if you put effort into working. It sort highlights the problem quite eloquently.

ToodleP1P · 30/09/2025 20:44

Ratherhavefreedom · 30/09/2025 20:42

You are so right i should stop working and have a bunch of kids and live on benefits and let others pay for them and me.
Why should i work when i can get housing and money for free all i have to do is have kids.

You missed my point. 40 hours working a week is the max that should be expected from people to have a decent standard of living.
You chose to work more and you can't moan about it when it was your choice.

Brainstorm23 · 30/09/2025 20:44

I think they could have chosen a better example in their article. "The family was not able to get a cake or any presents for their youngest child’s birthday. They hoped the child would be too young to remember."

Ah..poor diddums..I didn't get a cake or any presents my entire fucking childhood!

ARichtGoodDram · 30/09/2025 20:44

I wonder how many of those in the Labour Party (& Reform as they were on about it as well) have misunderstood the two child benefit policy as being pertaining only to child benefit as well as many on MN have?

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