Lifting of the two-child limit on Universal Credit

From April 2026, the Government is removing the two-child limit for Universal Credit (UC).

This means you can receive the child element for all children, not just the first two. For some households, this could mean hundreds of pounds more each month. However, some households may not get extra money because of something called the Benefit Cap.

Benefit Cap

The Benefit Cap is a limit on how much benefit you can get.

The monthly limits are:

• £1,835 for couples or single parents
• £1,229.42 for single adults

If your total benefits go over this amount, your Universal Credit may be reduced.

You may not be affected by the cap if:

• Your household earns £846+ per month (after tax and National Insurance)
• Your UC includes Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity (LCWRA)
• You receive Carer’s Allowance
• You or your child receive disability benefits such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Attendance Allowance, Guardian’s Allowance (AA), Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit or ESA with the support component
• You qualify for the 9-month grace period after leaving work

If you start receiving a qualifying benefit or begin working, the benefit cap should stop. In some cases, you can also have the cap backdated, meaning you’ll get a refund for the money that was previously taken away.

Not currently claiming UC?

If you have three or more children and were previously told you didn’t qualify, it’s worth checking again from April 2026. You may now be entitled to universal credit.

Check what benefits you might be entitled to using Turn2Us’s benefits calculator.

You can also check if you are impacted by the Benefit Cap using this online calculator.

If you need more support, speak to a specialist from a local advice agency, or contact our Money Advice Team who can help by:

• Checking your entitlement
• Explaining how the Benefit Cap may affect you
• Helping you apply for disability or carer benefits.