The abolition of the two‑child limit is a historic and long‑overdue moment for children and families across the UK. As the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) has highlighted, ending the two‑child limit is a “gamechanger for millions of children”, bringing to an end one of the most harmful and punitive policies affecting families in modern times.
Commenting on the abolition, Helen Forrest, Chief Executive of Children’s Health Scotland said:
The abolition of the two‑child limit is a landmark moment for children and families who have been pushed to the brink for far too long. For the families we work alongside every day — particularly those caring for children with health conditions, and our kinship carers stepping in at times of crisis — this change is about dignity, fairness and finally being seen. Poverty intensifies illness, stress and trauma, and removing this policy lifts an enormous weight from families already carrying more than most. Scrapping the two‑child limit reflects exactly what we set out in our Manifesto: that children’s health and wellbeing must come first, and that no child’s life chances should be limited by policy decisions beyond their control.
Read CPAG’s full announcement CLICK HERE
For the families we work with — many of whom are managing long‑term health conditions, disabilities, poverty, and caring responsibilities — this is not abstract policy change. It is something that will be felt immediately, in homes and in daily life.
Why the Two‑Child Limit Harmed Families So Deeply
The two‑child limit restricted support in Universal Credit and Child Tax Credit to the first two children in a family, regardless of circumstances or need. When fully rolled out, CPAG estimated it would have impacted 2.2 million children, with 1.7 million living in poverty as a direct result. Thousands of pounds per child were removed from household incomes — money families relied on for essentials such as food, heating, transport, school costs and healthcare‑related expenses. Crucially, the policy failed to reflect real life. Most families affected were working, and many experienced illness, disability or sudden changes in circumstances. For families whose lives already include hospital appointments, therapy, caring roles or complex needs, the two‑child limit compounded hardship rather than reducing it.
A Critical Shift for Children With Health Conditions
Families caring for children with health conditions often face significantly higher living costs:
- additional heating and laundry needs
- specialist diets or equipment
- transport to appointments and hospitals
- reduced ability for parents or carers to work flexibly
- Yet under the two‑child limit, these realities were ignored. Children with health needs were treated no differently than any other — except their families were expected to cope with less support.
- Poverty does not exist separately from health. It increases stress, worsens mental health, undermines treatment plans and can lead to more frequent hospital admissions. Ending the two‑child limit begins to reverse that damage and recognises that income security is a vital part of children’s health and wellbeing.
What This Means for Kinship Care Families
Kinship carers — grandparents, aunts, uncles and other relatives who step in to care for children — are often doing so suddenly, in response to crisis. Many take on responsibility with little warning and limited financial support, driven by love and a determination to keep children safe and connected to family. The two‑child limit placed additional pressure on kinship care households, forcing families to stretch already limited resources even further. Its abolition acknowledges the vital role kinship carers play and offers them greater stability and fairness at a time when they are stepping up for children.
A Manifesto Commitment in Action
In our Manifesto, we are clear: tackling child poverty is essential to tackling health inequality. The removal of the two‑child limit is a practical example of what happens when children’s wellbeing is taken seriously at policy level. It shows that decisions made in government have real, tangible impacts on children’s lives — and that change is possible when families’ lived experiences are listened to. This is a moment to recognise the power of sustained advocacy, evidence and children’s voices.
A Turning Point — And a Foundation for More Change
While the abolition of the two‑child limit is transformational, it is not the end of the journey. Families raising children with health conditions will continue to need:
- adequate and reliable incomes
- accessible health and support services
- flexible, inclusive employment
- policies grounded in reality, dignity and rights
Ending the two‑child limit gives families breathing space — space to focus on caring, on wellbeing, and on helping children grow and thrive. It is a win worth celebrating — and a foundation on which we must continue to build.
DO YOU WANT TO HAVE YOUR SAY ON THE HEALTH RIGHTS OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE?
For fifty years, Children’s Health Scotland has been listening to what matters most to children and young people about their health and their rights. Through five decades of stories, surveys, programmes, hospital visits, school sessions, and lived experience, one message has never changed: Children and young people know what they need — and their voices must guide the future of healthcare in Scotland. CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE.
