Labour are lifting the 2 child benefit cap

[PuppyKeep]

AIBU that this is a terrible decision?

I’m not writing to my MP demanding that children live in poverty. I’m writing to find out where the money is coming from for this considering not so long ago we were told we were all going to have to make cutbacks, starting with disabled people.

We have an NHS in crisis, teachers who are having to pay for the supplies for their own classrooms, more armed forces personnel leaving per year than who are joining, the police force can’t cope with the amount of crime because they were cut to the bone and we have a gaping great black hole in the economy which no one will admit the true extent of.

We can’t afford to pay people to have as many kids as they please.

We can’t afford to pay people to have as many kids as they please.

This policy won't cause the above.

We can't afford not to pay people to have more kids.

I would much rather the money went to nurseries so that parents could return to work or to breakfast clubs so that kids are fed or to the education system in some way so that future generations are able to break any bad habits of their parents.

Basically make it easier for people to work, get to work, have free parking for certain occupations, and allow people to save more of their hard earned money, it would incentivise many. I feel the appetitive now is there’s no point working over a certain threshold as you’ll just be taxed more and it’s not worth the stress.

There may be a minority overall but they are the majority of those whose children are in poverty.

My own aunt. Loved babies not children so much. Popped out six. Till men decided she was a bit crazy. And a bit is being kind.

Old neighbour 3 children 2 baby daddies, was ok because twin rule on second pregnancy. After the cap went on to have two more children. Neither parent worked. Now five children no partner not working. She will be well chuffed she’s about to get more money. She still doesn’t work and neither of her baby daddies are involved or work either.

That’s without being just judgemental in the school playground without knowing all the facts as posters like to point out.

we have a gaping great black hole in the economy which no one will admit the true extent of.

The ageing population is contributing to the above

And we need more young workers to balance that.

And that just pushes the problem down a generation again and again. We cannot keep that up

Children age too.

Everybody ages.

We can't keep having more babies to pay the pensions of the previous generation. Eventually we will run out of space and resources.

they will still be relatively poor yes, but several pieces of research has shown that this policy is the key reason for increases in numbers of children living in what is defined poverty (which is pretty Damm poor) and lifting it could lift 300,000 children above the poverty line - see https://www.jrf.org.uk/child-poverty/two-policies-to-boost-family-living-standards-and-reduce-child-poverty for an example

@ChardonnaysBeastlyCat do you understand the difference between an ageing population and everybody ages?

Increase the higher rate income tax threshold from £50k to £60k then, to incentivise those working families who have to make the decision that they can't afford to raise more than one child.

They should raise it from 2 to 3 DC. Not have no cap at all.

What about children who have no time with their parents, because their parents are out working? I see so many parents pushing buggies home in the dark or tired kids out first thing in the morning. I totally understand why those families want to keep the money that they are scarifying time with their own children for!

So let’s kill off all the pensioners shall we?

Grow up! In 2022-23 61% of pensioners paid tax. That’s expected to rise to 76% by 2032

You do realise that most people with kids on benefits are in work, the problem is that work doesn’t pay them enough to live on.

We can't keep having more babies to pay the pensions of the previous generation.

@OonaStubbs why do you think that is what is happening? Birth rates have been below replacement for years!

We already have more older people than children.

. Eventually we will run out of space and resources.

Unfortunately an ageing population even if smaller will need resources.

I agree it probably won't, but it should be the aim.

This will probably simply somewhat reduce the number of children living in poverty - but having children will remain a huge financial penalty. Its essential that people start having more kids and we need to make that more attractive.

How long has the cap been in place?

When is it going to start "working"?

I do find Mumsnet incredibly sheltered sometimes! I have members of my own family who have somehow managed a life of not working!

Well, when people age you will have an ageing population.

Unless the sainted NHS kills us all.

Anyway, having more children who we can't afford is a Ponzi scheme.

Why?

The Treasury is exploring instead whether the additional benefits might be limited to three or four children, or whether there could be a tapered rate introduced so parents would get the most for their first child and less for subsequent children.

Another option under consideration is to lift the cap only for working parents on universal credit, to encourage more people into the workforce.

Full rate fo 6+ kids is only mentioned on this thread

I’m a single mother with 2 young children.

I really don’t agree with it. When I fell pregnant with my second child unexpectedly, I went ahead with the pregnancy because I was financially secure and knew I could provide for my child. I had always vowed I would never have an abortion before then but had I not had the financial measures to provide for my child, as awful as it sounds I would have opted for a termination.

Now before anyone jumps me, there is a certain culture who has a much higher birth rate compared to other cultures in this country. I would know as I was married to a man from this culture and lived in his country. I know how their ideology works.

When I was pregnant with my youngest dc, often woman from said culture were holding very young babies in the antenatal unit and pregnant again. A fair few requiring interpreters.