Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the most recent annual estimate is of the cost of ending the two child limit for universal credit between now and 2033/34.

No assessment has been made up to 2033/34, however we estimate that the cost of ending this policy to be around £5bn up to 23/24.

The Government’s view is that providing support for a maximum of two children or qualifying young persons in Universal Credit and Child Tax Credit ensures fairness between claimants on the one hand and, on the other, those taxpayers who support themselves solely through work. Where they are able to, Individuals should consider whether they are financially prepared to support a new child without relying on benefits.

We recognise that some claimants are not able to make the same choices about the number of children in their family, which is why exceptions have been put in place to protect certain groups. On migration to Universal Credit families’ existing entitlement will be protected, so long as they remain responsible for the same children and entitled to benefit.