Forum Home → Discussion → Children and childcare → Thread
Two Child Policy - government responds to consultation and confirms April 2017 start
Guidance now out about 2 child policy and forms for claiming exceptions -
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/support-for-a-child-conceived-without-your-consent
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/support-for-a-child-who-is-informally-living-with-you
[ Edited: 6 Apr 2017 at 11:28 am by Daphne ]forum member
Macmillan welfare rights advisor - Barnsley MBC, Barnsley
Total Posts: 132
Joined: 17 June 2010
Help! Three experienced Welfs are confused and think the answer to this is the dread one. Lone Parent on CTC, three children all born well before 6/4/17. New partner thinking about moving in.
On change of claim from single to joint, will they get 2 or 3 child elements?
TIA.
Edit - we have rung tax credits advisors line twice and one says 2 and said 3.
forum member
Benefits consultant/trainer - hbanorak.co.uk, East London
Total Posts: 2955
Joined: 12 March 2013
Definitely 3: there is no limit on CTC elements for children born before 6/4/17.
The only relevance of pre-6/4/17 children is that if you already have 2+ of them you cannot get another element for a child born from 6/4/17
forum member
Macmillan welfare rights advisor - Barnsley MBC, Barnsley
Total Posts: 132
Joined: 17 June 2010
Thank you.
forum member
Welfare benefits - Craven CAB, North Yorkshire
Total Posts: 1362
Joined: 16 June 2010
Just for completeness on the child age issue, the plan under UC from November 2018 onwards:
From November 2018 Universal Credit will accept new claims from claimants with three or more children. For these new claims, Universal Credit will no longer pay an additional amount for any third or subsequent child or qualifying young person, regardless of when they were born, unless exceptions apply.
Households who have been in receipt of support for children or QYPs in Universal Credit, Child Tax Credits, Income Support or Jobseeker’s Allowance in the last [?six] months will be protected so that their existing level of entitlement is maintained (as long as they remain entitled responsible for the same children and QYPs).
There might be some large families who are thinking of long term changes (moving in together, giving up work, etc) who need to be aware of this date as it gets closer.
Jon (CHDCA) - 07 April 2017 04:16 PMThere might be some large families who are thinking of long term changes (moving in together, giving up work, etc) who need to be aware of this date as it gets closer.
In particular ‘blended’ families where often two single parents get together.
forum member
Information and advice resources - Age UK
Total Posts: 3289
Joined: 7 January 2016
DWP have produced a guide to how this is supposed to work in practice, hopefully attached here.
File Attachments
- Two_Child_UC_v2_landscape.pdf (File Size: 242KB - Downloads: 2748)
Seventy plus clinical psychologists sign letter opposing ‘rape clause’ saying it will cause significant psychological harm
forum member
Nestor Financial Group Ltd
Total Posts: 493
Joined: 20 January 2016
Jon (CHDCA) - 07 April 2017 04:16 PMJust for completeness on the child age issue, the plan under UC from November 2018 onwards:
From November 2018 Universal Credit will accept new claims from claimants with three or more children. For these new claims, Universal Credit will no longer pay an additional amount for any third or subsequent child or qualifying young person, regardless of when they were born, unless exceptions apply.
Households who have been in receipt of support for children or QYPs in Universal Credit, Child Tax Credits, Income Support or Jobseeker’s Allowance in the last [?six] months will be protected so that their existing level of entitlement is maintained (as long as they remain entitled responsible for the same children and QYPs).
There might be some large families who are thinking of long term changes (moving in together, giving up work, etc) who need to be aware of this date as it gets closer.
What a major disincentive to trying work. So if they stay on benefits and don’t try to get a job, they’re safe but if they work for more than 6 months, they’re stuffed? I think I know what my advice will be.
David Gauke has announced in an oral statement in the House of Commons that redirection to tax credits for universal credit claims from a family with three or more children will continue until January 2019 (not 31 October 2018 as currently planned) (using discretion introduced by reg 3 of the regulations bringing in the two child limit and interim period).
DWP has updated its guidance to confirm new end date as 31 Janaury 2019.
forum member
Welfare rights officer - Enable Scotland
Total Posts: 879
Joined: 22 August 2013
stuart - 23 November 2017 04:59 PMDavid Gauke has announced in an oral statement in the House of Commons that redirection to tax credits for universal credit claims from a family with three or more children will continue until January 2019 (not 31 October 2018 as currently planned) (using discretion introduced by reg 3 of the regulations bringing in the two child limit and interim period).
DWP has updated its guidance to confirm new end date as 31 Janaury 2019.
this delay shows universal credit is working great and helping those who need it.
or something like that anyway.
Written answer yesterday explains how the two-child policy limit increases household financial resilience -
Reflecting carefully on readiness to support an additional child could have a positive effect on financial resilience.
Update to the Welfare Reform Act 2012 regulations page on gov.uk for 29 October provides details of the Secretary of State’s determination to extend the interim period for redirecting claims with 3+ children to 31 January 2019.
forum member
Welfare rights adviser - Social Inclusion Unit, Swansea
Total Posts: 487
Joined: 17 June 2010
Any news/rumours about another extension keeping 3+ kids out of UC, hits home badly this week due to benefit checks on a couple of refugee families 4 and 5 kids just given leave. In Feb they will be on UC and only paid for 2 kids.