17 March 2017

New regulations - 2 child limit policy Universal Credit

New Universal Credit regulations have been laid to introduce the policy of restricting support in UC to 2 children. For new claims to Universal Credit from April 2017, the child element will only be included for up to 2 children. It will not be included for third or subsequent children unless an exception applies. 

Between April 2017 and October 2018, anyone wishing to make a new claim for Universal Credit who already has more than 2 children will be directed to claim tax credits instead of UC.

The change will be introduced to UC  from 6 April 2017. You can read more about it in our section on policy changes.

We are in the process of producing more detailed guidance which will be available shortly. 

SI.376/2017 is available via the legislation.gov.uk website