What is this 2 child cap benefit anyway? Who does it affect?

I don't think the alternatives for not having the unplanned child are easy for a Mother either

Much confusion everywhere. Child benefit replaced Family Allowance
but csn be reduced if one parent is high earner (unsure of new limit).The 2 child limit applies to universal credit or child tax credits (being phased out). Universal credit is claimed by many working families, not just the demonised "babies on benefits" single mums so beloved of the right wing press

HattieTopper

Years ago I worked in a clinic where baby andmilk and vitamin drops were given out freely to young mothers on child benefit. They handed over their tokens, were given 3 tins of SMA milk and vitamin drops. They then went to the phone in the reception area, rang for a taxi to take them to a shopping centre. then went outside and lit up a cigarette.

She was on benefits but could afford to get taxis and smoke. Other mums who could not caim benefits as they were above the threshold for claiming them were having to pay a lot of money for their baby milk so were worse off than the mothers on benefits.

There is something wrong with our system.

"Years ago"

👏👏*I love cheese*.
Nobody things that the government should look after their children. Point me to evidence of parents saying, ‘Ooh well there’s the child benefit, let’s go for it’.

And I think that in 30-40 years time the country will be glad of
these children.

I would have loved to have four children or maybe even six or eight as they are so adorable. But we could only afford two so we had two. In any case, the planet cannot afford all these children so I really do think some kind of financial deterrent is needed.

what about if you could afford them, and then you can't ?
illness, disease, divorce, death, disability, redundancy...

Reading through the various comments on here it’s understandable that the government can’t please everyone. Personally, I feel that if you can’t afford to have three children you shouldn’t have them. Why do people think it’s the government’s responsibility to look after their children?

I seem to recall that Child Benefit was introduced, so that the mother had some money. The main breadwinners (men) were historically paid in cash and would drink most of it on the way home on a Friday or just not give anything to the wife.

As for ex-husbands not contributing, whatever happened to Garnishee Orders?

I believe we should use removal of driving licences as part of a non custodial sentence. Passports another suggestion

I understand that Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves have committed themselves to sticking with the so called "fiscal rules" but these rules are entirely arbitrary. I also understand that they say they intend to alleviate child poverty in the future. I think, though, that childhood is too short and poverty too damaging to children, for them to have to wait. The most vulnerable members of our society should be a priority. I am going out now, or I would continue to rant on about it.

What a good idea Dee1012 something like that would surely focus ‘feckless dads’ minds. They’d soon shape up and take some responsibility for their kids if it meant they couldn’t drive.

My son's father left just prior to his birth....he never paid a penny despite a court order for maintenance and later CSA (child support agency) involvement.

He was actually a Police officer for a number of years and then moved into self employment.

I provided information and evidence on numerous occasions but nothing was ever done.
I think it's disgusting that so many absent parents are allowed to get away with this, either total non payment or a derisory sum and that it's been allowed to continue for many years - my son is in his 40's and I work with younger people who are going through the same struggle now.
I often wonder why we don't adopt the practice of some American states...removing driving licence etc?!!

I love cheese, I understand your point but I don’t see Starmer’s current position as courting conservatives. Labour mp’s share commitment to reducing child poverty. Their success in this election is down to Starmer making the economic promises he did. Building the economy, getting people working for decent wages has to be central.

The new government cannot just conjure 3.5 billion pounds without borrowing, raising taxes or making cuts to public services. They have pledged to keep to the previous goverment's fiscal rules for now.

They have a strategy to address child poverty which is already underway.

There are a couple of good threads on X from @edwinhayward and @TorstenBell that you might like to read.

To quote from the first:

If in a few months - around the Autumn statement or shortly thereafter - Labour are still grinding their gears on child poverty without any progress, then you have the right to be aggrieved.

I do blame Labour politicians though, child poverty could be so easily and quickly reduced by this measure. These are in the main small children, they should not have to wait. Court Conservative votes by all means but admit that that is what they are doing, don't pretend to care about child poverty.

The absent fathers I know have/had MOTHERS who didn’t like the DIL and who blamed them for the relationship breakdown.The reasoning was if it was her fault,she didn’t treat him like the god his mother thinks he is then why should he pay for her children. I count my own daughter amongst those and even though the whole town knew my ex SIL was sleeping his way round the area his mother thought it was my daughters fault….she worked…she expected him to “help” with the children and housework after he,d spent a hard day at work…lol.Maybe our generation is to blame for feckless dads,spoilt boys who believe they are gods gift to women.
He hasn’t,t paid for his amazing children but now 15 years down the line he,s incandescent with rage because one of the kids wants to change her name.They are amazing kids but it’s no thanks to him.Mums like my daughter deserve whatever help they can get.They aren’t, scrounges or any of the other names some on here pin on them

Urmstongran

Apologies. Re-read your post LucyAnna2. Possibly your three grandchildren ARE his only kids. Rubbish system isn’t it? He gets off ‘Scot-free’ it seems (like many others).

Yes, that’s the situation. The ex and the new partner don’t have children (yet) and have fancy cars, expensive holidays, etc

It is what used to be family allowance, usually the Mother claims it in all cases but no single earner in a household is allowed to earn over a certain amount, so it's not just related to universal credit.

I suppose the CSA was expensive to run and that's why changes were made. There should be an easier way to get fathers to pay responsibly

Glad I didn’t disappoint winterwhite!

I would have loved to have had a third child. Sadly, financially I decided not to.

Luckily I did, as my first husband left me with a 5 and 8 year old. But, he did pay child maintenance as he was basically a decent man and Father. Just decided he was gay!!

I really do not know what the answer to this dilemma is but as already been said, the Father's need to be pursued to pay something towards the keep of their children.

I knew someone years ago who had 4 children, the husband left and never paid a penny, despite the Child Benefit Agency (I think that was what it was called) chasing him. Apparently, he just ripped up the forms! He was self employed which I think made it harder to prove his earnings?

Quite so, Urms, was sure you'd notice 🤣

Ooh shoehorned nicely there winterwhite. 🤣

Well, how far ahead do you expect parents to look before contemplating a third child? Who could have foreseen the cost of living increases of the last five years?

The strain of unemployment has been the cause of many family breakdowns.

The hidden casualties of Brexit.

Merion

Ilovecheese

This cap has not worked to stop people having more children, it has just made children poorer. Of course all fathers should contribute but they don't. This cap has not led to anything other than poverty for children. I understand that most people don't care, but I would have expected Labour politicians to care.

It’s unfair to say that Labour don’t care. I have already posted above linking to this:

www.gov.uk/government/news/ministerial-taskforce-launched-to-kickstart-work-on-child-poverty-strategy

Surely it is better to take a considered, holistic approach than respond to a quick King's Speech amendment.

There have been a number of discussions on here where people have been very vocal about not wanting to pay more tax. Reeves is being caution. Labour were elected on a promise of not increasing income tax, NI and VAT so where would the 3.5 billion needed to scrap the cap immediately come from if the government also wants to stimulate economic growth?

The new government has already taken some measures: stopping the 10bn Rwanda scheme, to clawback funds lost to Covid corruption fraud estimated at 7bn, measures to address the 40bn annual tax gap and so on.

It’s been less than 20 days. Give them a chance to find some extra money without resorting to tax rises or cuts to public services.

👏👏 Inevitably many issues raised in GN, what about this or that group in need - who could disagree in theory? In practice a whole number of tough choices are being made.

Labour has some very strong policies on improving early years education and poverty and you can't do everything.

MissAdventure

I don't think birth control comes with a crystal ball.

Exactly!