Children in Scotland supports open letter calling for scrap of two-child benefit cap
Children in Scotland’s CEO, Dr Judith Turbyne, has added her signature to a letter encouraging the UK Government to scrap the two-child benefit cap.
Dr Turbyne’s signature joins over a hundred others in calling for a fairer benefit system ahead of the UK Government’s budget announcement towards the end of November.
The letter was submitted by Child Poverty Action Group and argues that the two-child limit, which is a UK Government policy that places the limit for parents claiming universal credit or tax credits for any children at two, does nothing but punish children and push more children, young people, and their families into poverty.
Children in Scotland stands by our position of opposing the two-child cap and is proud to be named along with over a hundred organisations and individuals across the UK in calling for the UK Government to leave this cruel and counter-productive policy in the past.
Read the full letter below:
As this government recognises, every child deserves the best start in life. But a record 4.5 million children live in poverty. Their life chances are being held back and their potential wasted. They deserve better.
At the Budget, the Chancellor has a unique chance to change this. By fully scrapping the two-child limit she can deliver a decisive shift in children’s opportunities, and in our country’s future potential.
We have come together as diverse organisations who recognise that turning the tide on child poverty is crucial for children, and also for wider ambitions on housing, education, health and national growth. Reducing child poverty will boost family budgets, and local economies. It will reduce household debt, and cut the huge future costs of poverty faced by our schools, hospitals and other public services.
Every day the two-child limit remains, in any form, it pushes children into poverty. Now is not the time for half-measures.
Now is the moment for the Prime Minister and Chancellor to hear the voices of the UK’s children and take this vital opportunity to do the right thing.
Abolishing the two-child limit in full will set millions of children’s lives on a path to a brighter future, and help to rebuild a stronger, fairer country and economy.
Read CPAG’s press release here.
Child Poverty Action Group
Child Poverty Action Group works on behalf of the more than one in four children in the UK growing up in poverty.
It collects evidence from families living in poverty and campaigns for solutions to bring about a society where children have a fair chance in life free from hardship.
