End two-child benefit cap, foodbank urges

Diane Kindred, of Gateshead Foodbank, says the government must take action to help families

A foodbank is calling for the government to lift the two-child benefit cap, which it warns has "plunged families into poverty".

The policy, introduced by the Conservatives, prevents households on universal or child tax credit from receiving payments for a third or subsequent child born after April 2017.

Gateshead Foodbank says one third of its users are families and, of those, almost 60% are affected by the cap.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said the government was funding a number of measures to help families.

Sir Keir Starmer's Labour government is expected to change the limit in next month's Budget with reports suggesting the Treasury is looking at different options, including a tapered system.

That would see parents receive the most benefits for their first child and less for subsequent children.

'School uniform isn't cheaper'

Gateshead Foodbank said its analysis showed families with three or more children were "significantly more reliant" on its support compared to smaller families, "accounting for a disproportionate number of food parcels distributed".

Local organiser Diane Kindred believes that while tapering payments would be better than the current system it would still not go far enough to help.

"It's a huge issue," she said. "People are struggling to buy the essentials and pay their bills.

"This policy has plunged families into poverty. A third or fourth child doesn't cost any less to care for.

"Their food isn't cheaper, their shoes aren't cheaper, their school uniform isn't cheaper.

"It's vital it's scrapped altogether."

The foodbank is run by volunteers and a small number of paid staff

Mrs Kindred says many people who use the foodbank have "exhausted every other avenue".

The organisation is appealing for North East MPs to write to Chancellor Rachel Reeves in support of scrapping the cap.

A DWP spokesperson said the government was funding a range of measures intended to help families, such as tripling investment in breakfast clubs to more than £30m in the 2025-26 financial year.

"Food bank use across the country went down last year, but we are determined to do more and ensure every child has the best start in life," he added.

"We are investing £500m in children's development through the rollout of Best Start Family Hubs, extending free school meals and ensuring the poorest don't go hungry in the holidays through a new £1bn crisis support package."