Legislation to abolish the two-child limit on benefits has been introduced to Parliament, with the government saying the move will lift thousands of children in Bedfordshire out of poverty and form a central part of its wider child poverty strategy.
The Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill was introduced yesterday (Thursday), the same day Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited a family hub in Bedford.
Announcing the change, the prime minister described the move as a “pivotal moment” and said the government was accelerating action to make life easier and cheaper for families.
The government estimates that removing the cap will benefit around 5,240 households in the county, supporting roughly 19,000 children.
Nationally, ministers say scrapping the two-child limit will lift 450,000 children out of poverty by the final year of the current Parliament, rising to 550,000 when combined with other measures such as expanded free school meals, help with energy bills and increased access to free childcare.
“Existing initiatives”
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the policy would help ensure that “no child should have their life chances determined by the circumstances they were born into”.
A government press release also highlighted a range of existing initiatives in Bedfordshire, including free breakfast clubs in 15 schools, the expansion of Best Start Family Hubs, funded childcare for working families, and nearly £2.5 million for the Holiday Activities and Food Programme.
Alongside the benefit change, ministers confirmed a new duty to notify schools, GPs and health visitors when children are placed in temporary accommodation, aimed at reducing the risk of vulnerable children falling through gaps in support.
Responding to the announcement, Central Bedfordshire Council said the local impact of removing the two-child limit would “take time to understand”.
Cllr Steven Watkins (Independent), the authority’s executive member for housing, said financial pressures were a significant factor for families, particularly those at risk of homelessness or living in transitional accommodation.
“Removing the limit may help to mitigate some of these pressures, but at this stage we do not have data to show whether it will reduce the number of families needing transitional accommodation,” he said.
He added that Central Bedfordshire Council would monitor the impact alongside other factors such as housing supply, private rent levels and recent changes affecting landlords.
Welcome move
In contrast, Luton Borough Council (LBC) had already welcomed the proposed removal.
In a November statement, it said the abolition of the two-child benefit cap from April would be “life-changing for thousands”.
The council said it had lobbied the government on the issue, warning that 1,700 Luton families, including more than 6,000 children, were losing up to £3,235 per year for each additional child under the cap.
LBC estimated that up to £9.2 million a year would flow directly to vulnerable households in the town as a result of the change.
Council leader Cllr Hazel Simmons MBE (Labour) said the decision would lift thousands of families out of destitution and give children “a healthier, safer and more secure start in life”.
Bedford Borough Council was asked for its response to the government announcement, including whether it expected the policy change to reduce demand for temporary accommodation or ease budget pressures over the next 12 to 24 months, but did not respond at the time of publication.
By John Guinn
Local Democracy Reporter
