Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what projections they have made of the effect of introducing the two-child limit on Child Tax Credits and the child element of Universal Credit on the number of children in poverty, according to the income-based measures used in the official Households Below Average Income statistics.

From 6 April 2017 families will no longer be able to claim additional support of up to £2,780 per child per year for third and subsequent children born on or after this date through Child Tax Credit or Universal Credit. Families on benefits should have to make the same financial decisions as families supporting themselves solely through work. All households should think carefully about whether they are financially prepared to support a new child without relying on means-tested benefits.

There will be no cash losers as a result of the Government’s policy to limit support to two children in Child Tax Credit and Universal Credit.

An impact assessment of Tax Credits and Universal Credit changes to Child Element and Family Element was published in July 2015. It can be found on the Parliament website[1].

[1] http://www.parliament.uk/documents/impact-assessments/ia15-006e.pdf