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Forum Home  →  Discussion  →  Children and childcare  →  Thread

Two Child Policy - government responds to consultation and confirms April 2017 start

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juliem
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Macmillan welfare rights advisor - Barnsley MBC, Barnsley

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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.

[ Edited: 7 Apr 2017 at 11:47 am by juliem ]
HB Anorak
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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

juliem
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Thank you.

Jon (CANY)
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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).

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/607403/stakeholder-guide-universal-credit-2-child-policy.pdf

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.

Gareth Morgan
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Jon (CHDCA) - 07 April 2017 04:16 PM

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.

In particular ‘blended’ families where often two single parents get together.

Paul_Treloar_AgeUK
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Information and advice resources - Age UK

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DWP have produced a guide to how this is supposed to work in practice, hopefully attached here.

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Stuart
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Seventy plus clinical psychologists sign letter opposing ‘rape clause’ saying it will cause significant psychological harm

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/apr/09/rape-clause-in-family-welfare-cap-harms-mothers-and-children?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Gmail

shawn mach
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New briefing from the Commons Library:

The two child limit in tax credits and Universal Credit

 

CDV Adviser
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Jon (CHDCA) - 07 April 2017 04:16 PM

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).

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/607403/stakeholder-guide-universal-credit-2-child-policy.pdf

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.

Stuart
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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.

stevenmcavoy
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stuart - 23 November 2017 04:59 PM

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.

this delay shows universal credit is working great and helping those who need it.

or something like that anyway.

Daphne
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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.

Stuart
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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.

Vonny
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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.