A father, who lost £1,200 a month in child benefits after moving in with his blended family, expressed concerns that they are just one setback away from needing foodbanks. Lewis Kirkbride, like many low-income parents, is urging the government to remove the two-child benefit limit introduced in 2015.
Kirkbride and his partner, who have four children between them, lost their entitlement to single-parent benefits and Universal Credit after purchasing a house together. Despite both working full-time, they are barely managing.
The two-child benefit cap restricts additional support for low-income families to their first two children, with exceptions for twins or adopted children. The policy, implemented in 2015, has led to significant financial losses for families, with some losing up to £3,500 a year in benefits for each additional child.
The North East Child Poverty Commission estimates that one in every eight children in the region is affected by the policy, pushing more families into poverty. Campaigners argue that the cap unfairly penalizes larger families and creates additional hardship. Some also highlight that the policy fails to consider the realities of domestic abuse survivors, many of whom may be forced to have more children and are left without adequate support.
Despite mounting pressure, the government has yet to reverse the policy, citing financial constraints. While they have committed to addressing child poverty with a bold strategy, the two-child benefit cap remains in place, leaving many families struggling to make ends meet.
