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A mother of four from County Londonderry has described the potential end of the two-child benefit cap as “life-changing” as she looks ahead to the upcoming budget announcement. Lucy Campbell, who lives in Coleraine, expressed relief at the possibility that her family “wouldn’t struggle anymore” if the policy were removed. The current cap restricts payments such as universal credit or tax credits to only the first two children in a family.
Campbell has been managing household finances amid rising living costs, which she said constantly occupy her mind. “I would go to bed and my head would still be constantly working, like what needs paid? Do I have enough for this?” she shared. The mother often finds herself deciding what things her children can “do without,” such as new clothes or trainers, decisions she said were not as difficult in the past. Despite carefully budgeting, Campbell admitted, “it’s still hard even when you learn to budget, it still takes a strain on you.”
The Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has previously indicated support for scrapping the policy, acknowledging that it is unfair for larger families to be “penalised” for circumstances beyond their control. Currently, families can only claim benefits for two children, which Campbell criticizes as unjust. “Why are two kids worth more money than the other two?” she questioned. “I don’t really see how it’s fair. Just because the older two were born first and they get money that the other two don’t. It’s the kids that are having to suffer but you have to try and make do with what you have.” If the cap is removed as part of Wednesday’s Budget, families would receive an extra £3,500 annually for each additional child.
At 26, Campbell reflected on her past experiences with work and benefits. She worked on and off while her older children were young but faced setbacks that forced her to rely on benefits when she could no longer work. “Whenever you get set back and then you can’t go back out to work, it’s then it really hits you. You haven’t got that extra money coming in,” she said. Despite financial pressures, she prioritizes her children above all else, noting, “My kids would always come first no matter what, like, but it takes a toll on you.” The policy change could potentially benefit families in Northern Ireland by an estimated £75 million, where larger families are more common compared to the rest of the UK. A 2019 report highlighted that 21.4% of families in Northern Ireland have three or more children, in contrast to 14.7% across the UK
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