Capped in a Crisis Experiences of the two-child limit and the benefit cap during the ongoing cost of living crisis

In this briefing, we summarise findings from the fourth round of interviews from the Benefit Changes and Larger Families project, which took place between November 2023 and January 2024.

This research shows that families affected by the benefit cap and/or two-child limit are experiencing extreme hardship during the ongoing cost of living crisis.

• Families are unable to afford basic necessities and are rapidly incurring debt.

• This financial hardship is negatively affecting parents’ mental health.

• The cost of living payments have been a welcome but inadequate support for protecting families during the crisis.

• The two-child limit and the benefit cap need to be abolished urgently