Capping benefits at 4 kids?

confusedmummy

I read this a while ago and was meaning to post about it.

This MP has suggested capping benefits at 4 kids; http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-15790806

I actually kind of agree with it but I think it should actually be capped at 2 and then tapered. What do other people think?

cleggie

I think it should be capped at the amount of children you have when you first need to claim benefits (taking into account if someone is pregnant at that time obviously).

Carl31

I agree, and i have 4 kids, although 2 are step and one doesnt live here all the time

I actually agree with 2 kids cap too

Edit, thought this was child benefit, not tc. Yes it should be capped

NAR

I like your idea. Hopefully it would stop the wee slappers from having 5 kids with 5 different fathers, just so they can have an easy time at tax payers expense.

Plans_all_plans

I think this may get moved to DT, but I have to agree with cleggie. It wouldn't be fair for someone who had worked hard to support 6 kids then fell on hard times (having to claim benefits) but only got support for 2 or 4 of the kids.

It's a difficult moral issue really though, as it is not the fault of the children that their parents are !!!!less and accidents can happen. I suppose you could say that in theory I agree with capping benefits, but in practice I would find the effect on the children distasteful. However, I don't believe that anyone should get continually bigger houses just for having more children. Maybe the overcrowding would be an incentive to stop.

*Louise*

I agree with this. I would even agree with a 2 child cap (I have 3 children)

There are some large families who work and provide for their children, but I have always wondered if there was a cap, would some of the really big familes who totally rely on benefits have kept having children?

Also - would it be fair to just suddenly implement an idea like this? IMO it would have to be introduced over a period of time, so people were prewarned that it was going to happen and could choose to plan their family with that knowledge in mind.

Edit: Just had another read of the article, and it seems it would be a case of if a family were on benefits and had a 5th child, they wouldn't get TC, but if they were working they would ?

the best way to avoid children growing up in poverty was to have them when the parents were working.

I take that to mean that if a working family fell on hard times, they would get TC for however many children they had been supporting whilst working.

onlyroz

They are talking about "limiting" the amount of benefits to £26k a year? So it's possible to receive more than this? That's as much as I earn after tax.

confusedmummy

I never understood why people get extra money when they have more kids on benefits. If you are in work you don't get a pay rise each time you have a child.

littlerat

confusedmummy, actually you still get the benefits raise if in work (child benefit and often tax credits rise too).

I think for now a 4 cap would be best, or a smaller cap WITH the caveat that people with more children don't lose out now, they simply won't get extra for more kids. It'll take a few years for full effect, but it would stop them pushing out extra. Also for obvious reasons I'd say exceptions for multiple births (ie if limit is 2 and you have twins 2nd time, can't exactly predict that).


I'm a bit biased but I don't agree necessarily with nobody on benefits ever having kids - it may be as well at times it's just the best time for whatever reason - or perhaps the only time in case of fertility problems.

But someone pushing out 10 kids and getting benefits for all does seem rather daft.

FatVonD

I think Cleggie's idea is brilliant, nobody can help falling on hard times but to continue to procreate when you already can't afford to support the children you already have is madness.

princessdreamer

Unfortunatly life does not fit the ideal. When I had children I was married and WE chose yo have more children, now I am on my own with no help from ex I expect state help if I need it. After all that is what I pay tax for.