2 child limit, why is nothing done about it? Do you agree?

[Hopeforchildren]

Hey guys, so it has been a fee years since the 2 child limit on tax credits. I know a few families with 3 children and started this thread for them. It seems quite odd that nothing has been done about it while most families have more than 2 children and are on low income. I mean not just single parents and non working parents, it’s a common struggle for all this including full time working couples or lone parents. What are your views on this subject. Shouldn’t there be a stop to it since its unfair on the child and even the previous children that has to go without? Before anyone attacking, please bear in mind that some people don’t agree with abortion or feel strongly connected with the baby to terminate the pregnancy. Looking forward to hearing your views. Please stay kind.

You can have as many as you like you just need to pay for them

Completely agree with this.

I also think that any maintenance received should be deducted from benefits.

I agree with this.

@Hopeforchildren sorry it wasn't clear but my free money response was tongue in cheek.
I just sometimes think we forget to appreciate the things we do get.
I don't get the money anymore as partner earns over the threshold (he isn't DS dad but we like to live by the rules). Also my DS still obv benefits from all the other things and I am very grateful.
I can't have anymore children. We didn't get free ivf to try. Life isn't fair.
I would happily pay more taxes to ensure children do not live in poverty but I can also see the idea behind the policy.

how about 750 a month and split into 3

Weren’t you talking about working parents? £750 per week is a lot and if that’s per month, then they can’t be working very much.

I don’t know. I knew those girls too; the ones who wanted to get pregnant to get a house. I never envied them. Can you imagine how shit things have to be for you to have that level of aspiration?

People should be responsible

Children are people.

assault conceptions happens

What the fuck sort of language is this? Do you mean rape?

I have generally mixed feelings on this.

I can see how the old system was perhaps more encouraging for low income/deprived families to carry on having children. In the long-run families who completely stop at 2 or 3 kids will probably end up better off then having really big families even with the extra tax credits for every child- they are likely to then work on progressing in their jobs, gaining qualifications etc and have more freedom sooner to work more hours/have less children to budget for/less years of providing for small children and their existing 2 or 3 children will probably benefit from that a lot more than being part of a big families and possibly unemployed parents.

I think that’s IDEALLY how it is supposed to work- encouraging families to make decisions that will benefit them and their kids in the long-run.

However, I’m not entirely sure how well it really works. Unplanned pregnancy is one thing. With the NHS stretched so thin atm getting contraception isn’t as easy and quick anymore. I waited months for a coil. When you now have a huge number of women who will be pushed into poverty (along with their children) if they were to get pregnant then waiting times like this for long-acting contraception isn’t good enough imo.

Also myself and my husband both work, have a mortgage and 2 kids. If I were to get pregnant with a third we would certainly be pushed into poverty. Another baby would mean I wouldn’t be able to work without spending most of my wages on childcare. Under the ‘old’ system we’d be entitled to tax credits for a 3rd if we had to live on just my husbands wages which would act as a safety net to provide properly for the kids until I could work once nursery/school hours kicked in. I don’t want another child due to these financial reasons but it’s frightening to think of other perfectly ‘normal’ married couples who could have a contraceptive failure or whatever and have to choose between poverty or abortion.

I’m pretty sure since the limit has come in the birth rate has fallen to all-time low whilst abortion rates have really climbed. I think it must be linked.

@Hobsbawm totally agree, look at the tory government with only a few women candidates. How can they possibly think of equality for women. There may be few that had more children to get more money but just want everyone to remember that women don’t just have the children and get paid. Children need raising, these people live and bring up these children that is hard and priceless. Having more than 2 kids would bring many struggles itself anyway. Why make people suffer in poverty too?

I can't quite see why people with more than 2 children should complain about the lack of benefits for a third child and that it's not fair on their first 2 children? Surely you should think about the welfare of the first two before having a third? It's the responsibility of the parent to ensure the wellbeing of all their children before conceiving.

2 is enough.

you wanna follow through on that shag you had for a third? then pay for it.

I think people should take personal responsibility and really plan ahead before having children. But what happens if you have 3/4 children that you could afford and then find yourself unable to get by? Does the Gov only pay for 2 of them?

puddingbowlee
Home ownership isn't a pre requisite of successful parenthood. If your friends desperately want a child then unfortunately there are time constraints on fertility. Less so home ownership.

The common answer I’m getting is that people have kids to get paid. That is a big misunderstanding and I believe it comes from people that don’t have children and understood the difficulties that come with it.

Nah, it comes from the mainstream media.

@Selene28 well Yh that’s what basically happens, so people better not trip and if they do well should have thought about it before having those children is the idea nowadays.

So what happens I'd you have 3+ kids that you could afford and then run in to financial trouble? I'd like to know

For alot of us it co e from growing up in poor areas and still living in them now.

You know, actual day to day experience.

Ok

That's kind of messed up. Maybe the affluent should stick to 2 max.

I do think it can be unfair.. but I don’t think it should be an endless pot of as many as you can pop out.

Like cases of oh’s running off with someone else after they’ve had 4 kids and won’t pay a penny in maintenance to the rp.. you can’t predict being in that situation. You’ve maybe never claimed benefits in the past either but can’t afford to turn on the heating now.

Maybe the cap works if it’s an at the time of claim plus 2 thing.. maybe not but it’d provide a valuable safety net for parents of multiples in the event of death/divorce/abuse/redundancy but at the same time limit the chance of families of 20 on tax credits.

I also think sterilisation shouldn’t be like fucking hens teeth until you’ve got multiple kids and in your late 30’s.. why does paying for 20 years of contraception make more sense than one op for the nhs. I get not all would go for it either.

And maintenance should be mandatory. Number of men with multiple kids to multiple women who swan off into the night and refuse to pay.

@JoJoSM2 i was being sarcastic and that was a month not a week

I think it's a terrible policy that penalises mothers and its shocking that this sexist policy isnt more scrutinised.
Think about it, nice couple have 2 dc and decide to stop there because they cant afford more. That's fine. Couple split up, mother become the main resident parent. Both parents eventually meet new, childless partners. The father can then go on to have 2 more children and again claim the tax credits for them. Mother however cannot afford a 3rd child with new partner so doesn't have anymore. So effectively dad can have 4 kids and claim tax credits (or more it's just 2 per mother) and mother can only claim for 2. Awful.

Be sensible and plan for the worst.
But again bottom line the government give generous support. It is the other responsibility to fund their children.

Having more than 2 kids would bring many struggles itself anyway. Why make people suffer in poverty too?

Don't have more than two kids then?!

I work in a deprived area, and see far too many parents with very low ability to cope have a child, then another, then another,(usually with a very small age gap which is hard and associated with poorer outcomes for the subsequent child anyway),the children grow up in poverty, are neglected and treated badly by people who can barely look after themselves, have social services involvement that doesn't help much as taking them into care is a bad option anyway.

It is very hard work looking after two children, looking after more than two is superhuman level hard. If you can't afford to pay for a third, you shouldn't be having one, it's not fair to your existing children who need money attention and a parent who is coping.

So what happens I'd you have 3+ kids that you could afford and then run in to financial trouble? I'd like to know

Like most people you would have planned this when you planned your third being f fully aware that there wont be additional money for the 3rd if you have financial difficulty.

My kids have an 8 year age gap. Not because that's what i wanted. But because that's what i could afford. It would also be doable on on just my wage and then we had insurance that paid out in event of death or illness.

I became a single parent, so it worked out well. Glad we didnt have a third knowing there would be no extra money for that one.