The 2 child benefit cap lift will be cancelled out by the weekly benefit cap

[Pinkbowls]

I keep seeing all this talk about families with 6+ kids “racking it in” if the two-child benefit cap is lifted, and honestly, it’s hogwash. Here’s the reality:

If the Labour government does lift the two-child cap, it will mainly help low-income working families and families who are claiming disability benefits. These households aren’t subject to the cap, so the poorest families and those who genuinely need extra support for a third or fourth child are the ones who will benefit.

For a single adult with two children outside London, the monthly benefit cap is around £1,832 (~£423 per week). In London, it’s higher, about £2,108 per month (~£486 per week).

Now let’s break it down roughly for someone renting privately:

• Assume the standard allowance + personal allowance for the adult + child elements (for 2 kids) = around £1,200–£1,300/month.
• Private rent in many parts of the UK, and especially in London, can easily eat £800–£1,200/month.
• Add council tax support (which helps a bit, but only partially) and you can see that most of the cap is already taken up.

So in reality, lifting the two-child cap doesn’t suddenly create a pile of extra cash. For families on benefits but below the cap, the extra child element for a third or fourth child may only leave a modest amount after rent and council tax.

The idea that parents with 6+ children will suddenly be sitting on a fortune is completely overblown. The system is designed so that the support goes to those who genuinely need it, not to families already comfortably above the threshold.

The main winners of this policy will be:

• Low-income working families who are earning enough to be under the cap and can actually receive the child element for additional children.
• Families claiming disability benefits, who aren’t subject to the cap at all.

It’s important to separate myths from reality: this is about helping the most vulnerable and supporting working families, not about rewarding large families for being on benefits.

You don't think being a carer is difficult, stressful and incredibly underpaid? Would it help if they all said 'sod this, I'm getting a job' and handed caring responsibilities over to the state, which already can't cope?

@Winteriscoming80I said something similar on another thread. My sisters best friend has 5 daughter, and trying for a son. 4 of those children are disabled so the cap is lifted for her. It’s feckless.

So the cap had no effect on her?
Does she claim benefits?

I know someone with 6. It's madness. I think it's just not knowing what else to do with life?

But those kids would have a better chance of being productive taxpayers if they at least eat every day?

Not and pay rent for a suitable home in London, no.

I have a lot of friends who get 'these things' so I know they do exist...

What you fail to realise is that the disability benefits for SEN and mental health in particular have absolutely exploded and claiming DLA for your kids with 'adhd' is now a means of income. The families taking the piss are all on the disability benefits ffs it's how they maintain that lifestyle generationally.

THIS!!!!
Benefits is meant to be a safety net for people who find themselves in tough times.
It is not meant to be a way if life. It's really that simple.

There's nothing symbolic about £3.6bn/year this will cost.

Sad but true, and the comment above yours is spot on!

Must vary from area to area then. Which means it's funded by your local council not the government.

Madness. What does she think shes doing?

Although I agree with this in principle, for many women, it’s not a choice. They may have abusive/coercive partners, may have learning difficulties or may suffer an event which drastically reduces their income eg illness, death of partner, partner leaving.

So it’s not just as straightforward as it first might seem.

It is for most people.

If people are struggling to afford to support 2 children then there shouldn't be more money made available to support more. There is a lot about personal responsibility. Yes it's lovely having children but where do we draw the line and when do we see that the country can't afford it? I know there are other things that are contributing to the current financial position but we can't keep opening the purse and digging around for money that isn't there or saying the 'rich' will bear more of the costs. The 'rich' in many cases are people who have made responsible decisions and are also finding things tough.
We need to review where all of our public money goes, from contracts, to benefits, pensions, NHS and staff costs (there are lots more) etc and see what we can do to reduce the waste, but we won't.....

maybe, but you only need to read on here to realise many, many women are left in the lurch with their DC when their partners take off.

Add in people who become ill, injured or widowed and I reckon there’s a significant amount of people having DC they thought they could afford then their circumstances changed.

Remember also we have a falling birth rate coupled with an aging population so we actually need people to be having DC.

Not all benefits. I am on PIP and work full-time. My disability isnt going anywhere

Most of that goes on rent for a lot of people. Even outside of London private rents can be high.

You are NOT supposed to be comfortable on benefits. Its supposed to be the last resort not an easy default. It should be hard. You need to get a job.

Those who are on benefits and low wages shouldn’t be having 4/5/6 children. They can’t afford them so shouldn’t be encouraged and supported by the government to increase their families when they can’t afford to. Too many people think that whatever their circumstances they have a ‘right’ to have as many children they want. Ive always worked full time. Would have loved to have had more than two DCs, but I couldn’t afford so stopped at two. Surely this is how all people should think.

Even people on disability benefits? Who by the way can and do work when receiving them

But how many children do you have? Criticism isn’t aimed at you unless you have a long term disability, receiving benefits and having multiple children that you can’t afford.

This is my issue with benefits.

it shouldn’t be there so you can live ‘comfortably’, benefits should be a safety net so you are houses, fed, warm whilst you get a job.

them you can ‘live comfortably’.

Benefits are supposed to be a safety net - not something you can comfortably live off!

I have 2 children. I claim child benefit and PIP. Am I now exempt from judgement?

So people on benefits get more free child care, free accomodation and have larger families than those that work who dont get free childcare (or get lower amounts of free child care) and have to balance working with bringing up kids.

Its a crazy system where its easier for those on benefits to have larger families than those who work.

I fundamentally disagree with a country that penalises working parents. Its totally wrong.

On average children will do what their parents did, throughout history for many reasons. Its a shame but unfortunately those children of people on benefits are statistically more likely to be on benefits themselves.

If you are on benefits you should be on birth control because if you cant pay for your own kids you shouldnt expect us to. You should be responsible. Those on benefits who want kids can get a job.