Following the announcement of the Government’s 2025 Budget, Caritas Westminster has released a statement welcoming the elimination of the two-child limit on Universal Credit payments.
Richard Harries, Director of Caritas Westminster, commented:
Caritas Westminster welcomes the government’s decision to scrap the two-child limit; a long overdue step that will lift 350,000 children out of poverty. Every day we see the hardship this unjust policy causes through the 300 parish and school food projects in our diocese, which supported more than 11,000 people last year.
Ending the two-child limit will bring real relief to families living in the most deprived parts of North London and Hertfordshire. But it should never have taken this long to recognise the injustice of a policy that punishes parents for growing their families and children for decisions not their own. It is regrettable that the change will not take effect until next April, leaving so many to face yet another hard winter unsupported.
Bishop Richard Moth, Chair of the Department for Social Justice for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, has also released a statement in favour of the policy change, noting:
I warmly welcome the government’s decision to scrap the policy that imposed a two-child cap on claims for Universal Credit. Since 2017, this policy has directly pushed many families into poverty and created anxiety for working families who often have no choice but to claim Universal Credit as a result of common, but unpredictable, life events, such as job loss or the onset of disability.
Repealing this policy, although overdue, comes at a significant cost to the government and we applaud that decision.
Large families are a blessing rather than a burden. We must consider how, in a variety of ways, we can support the flourishing of families which are necessary to secure the future of our society.
There is still much work to be done to address the scourge of child poverty. Over 90 per cent of our schools have reported encountering families that are struggling with the cost of living, and 70 per cent have noted worsening conditions. Our ongoing response to child poverty should be urgent and multifaceted, considering a range of solutions.
Finally, I would like to thank the individuals, Catholic charities and organisations that campaigned tirelessly to oppose the two-child cap policy on Universal Credit.
