The Two Child Benefit Cap: "If your circumstances change, you can't send your third one back!"

Much like the Labour Party, Mumsnet users are divided on Keir Starmer's approach to the two child benefit cap. ?Some are in favour of a cap in principle:

I'm a single mum to 3 children. I receive tax credits for all three as they were born before the limit was introduced. I would have definitely struggled without it. I'm not totally against a cap though, or perhaps I feel there needs to be some form of limit. ?

While some that aren't in favour are still sympathetic to the argument that a lack of cash prevents immediate action:

They can't afford to do that and give public sector pay rises, privatise rail and water and fix prisons all at once. They need more than a week so they will have to pace themselves and come back to that once there is more money. It can't be a priority over hiring more teachers and nurses surely?

I think removing the cap is a good LT goal, but there is absolutely no flipping money right now.? ?

But other users feel the cap is deeply unfair, and that its removal should be a priority for the new government:

Some families already had more than 2 children before they became ill/ lost their jobs/their relationship broke down. None of them had a crystal ball.

?Having children growing up in poverty does no-one any favours. . Starmer needs to rethink this one. We can afford to reverse the cap .?

And many are particularly troubled by the fact that the cap disproportionately affects single parent households (and thus single mums). We hear repeatedly on Mumsnet from women who have found it almost impossible to get the money their children are entitled to from ex-partners via the Child Maintenance Service, and users feel that ensuring absent parents pay their fair share might be a more effective way of tackling the state's costs:

?I wish there was a 'policy' that works for the men who leave their children without financial provision - for the state to cover.

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