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Two-Child Benefit Cap

Two-Child Benefit Cap

The petition of residents of the constituency of York Central,

Declares that the Two Child Benefit Cap results in parents of families with three or more children born after April 2017 can only claim benefit for the first two children, unless they prove that further children have been conceived by rape; and further that this is a major reason for child poverty, causing larger families hardship, and that this has impacted on 1.6 million children since its introduction.

The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to consider the impact of the two-child benefit cap in developing a strategy to end child poverty.

And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by

Rachael Maskell

, Official Report, 25 November 2025; Vol. 776, c. 355.]

[P003137]

[P003137]

Observations from

the Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Dame Diana Johnson):

As announced in the Budget on 26 November 2025, we will remove the two child limit from April 2026. Given the requirement for primary legislation, we are progressing this as quickly as possible within those legal and parliamentary constraints.

As announced in the Budget on 26 November 2025, we will remove the two child limit from April 2026. Given the requirement for primary legislation, we are progressing this as quickly as possible within those legal and parliamentary constraints.

The petition of residents of the constituency of York Central,

Declares that the Two Child Benefit Cap results in parents of families with three or more children born after April 2017 can only claim benefit for the first two children, unless they prove that further children have been conceived by rape; and further that this is a major reason for child poverty, causing larger families hardship, and that this has impacted on 1.6 million children since its introduction.

The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to consider the impact of the two-child benefit cap in developing a strategy to end child poverty.

And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by

Rachael Maskell

, Official Report, 25 November 2025; Vol. 776, c. 355.]

[P003137]

[P003137]

Observations from

the Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Dame Diana Johnson):

As announced in the Budget on 26 November 2025, we will remove the two child limit from April 2026. Given the requirement for primary legislation, we are progressing this as quickly as possible within those legal and parliamentary constraints.

As announced in the Budget on 26 November 2025, we will remove the two child limit from April 2026. Given the requirement for primary legislation, we are progressing this as quickly as possible within those legal and parliamentary constraints.