Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Act 2026

2026 Chapter 13

An Act to make provision to remove the two child limit on the child element of universal credit.

Enacted [18th March 2026]

Be it enacted by the King’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

^I11 Removal of two child limit: GB¶

Amends Welfare Reform Act 2012 · 2 deletions

10 Responsibility for children and young persons

subsection (1) unchanged

1A But the amount mentioned in subsection (1) is to be available in respect of a maximum of two persons who are either children or qualifying young persons for whom a claimant is responsible.

subsections (2) – (3) unchanged

4 Regulations may provide for exceptions to subsection (1) ~~or (1A)~~.

subsection (5) unchanged

1 In section 10 of the Welfare Reform Act 2012 (responsibility for children and young persons)—

a omit subsection (1A) (the two child limit), and

b in subsection (4) omit “or (1A)”.

2 In consequence of the amendments made by subsection (1)—

Amends Welfare Reform and Work Act 2016 · 3 deletions

14 Universal credit: limit on number of children etc.

subsection (1) unchanged

2 After subsection (1) of section 10 of the Welfare Reform Act 2012 insert— “(1A) But the amount mentioned in subsection (1) is to be available in respect of a maximum of two persons who are either children or qualifying young persons for whom a claimant is responsible.”

subsection (3) unchanged

4 In subsection (4) at the end insert “ or (1A)”.

5 In the Universal Credit Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/376)—

a in regulation 24(1) (the child element), after “responsible” insert “ and in respect of whom an amount may be included under section 10”;

paragraph (b) unchanged

subsections (6) – (8) unchanged

a in section 14 of the Welfare Reform and Work Act 2016, omit subsections (2), (4) and (5)(a), and

Amends The Universal Credit Regulations 2013 · 1 deletion

24 The child element

1 The amount to be included in an award of universal credit for each child or qualifying young person for whom a claimant is responsible ~~and in respect of whom an amount may be included under section 10~~ (“the child element”) is given in the table in regulation 36.

subsection (2) unchanged

b in regulation 24(1) of the Universal Credit Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/376), omit “and in respect of whom an amount may be included under section 10”.

3 The following provisions of the Universal Credit Regulations 2013 were made under the power repealed by subsection (1)(b) (power to provide for exceptions to the two child limit) and are therefore revoked—

a regulation 24A;

b regulation 24B;

c Schedule 12.

4 The amendments made by this section have effect in relation to assessment periods commencing on or after 6 April 2026, and for this purpose “assessment period” has the same meaning as in Part 1 of the Welfare Reform Act 2012.

^I22 Removal of two child limit: NI¶

Amends Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015 · 2 deletions

15 Responsibility for children and young persons

paragraph (1) unchanged

1A But the amount mentioned in paragraph (1) is to be available in respect of a maximum of two persons who are either children or qualifying young persons for whom a claimant is responsible.

paragraphs (2) – (3) unchanged

4 Regulations may provide for exceptions to paragraph (1) ~~or (1A)~~.

paragraph (5) unchanged

1 In Article 15 of the Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I. 1)) (responsibility for children and young persons)—

a omit paragraph (1A) (the two child limit), and

b in paragraph (4), omit “or (1A)”.

2 In consequence of the amendments made by subsection (1)—

Amends Welfare Reform and Work (Northern Ireland) Order 2016 · 3 deletions

10 Universal credit: limit on number of children etc.

paragraph (1) unchanged

2 After paragraph (1) of Article 15 of the 2015 Order insert— “(1A) But the amount mentioned in paragraph (1) is to be available in respect of a maximum of two persons who are either children or qualifying young persons for whom a claimant is responsible.”

paragraph (3) unchanged

4 In paragraph (4) at the end insert “ or (1A)”.

5 In the Universal Credit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016—

a in regulation 25(1) (the child element), after “responsible” insert “ and in respect of whom an amount may be included under Article 15”;

paragraph (b) unchanged

paragraphs (6) – (7) unchanged

a in Article 10 of the Welfare Reform and Work (Northern Ireland) Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/999 (N.I. 1)), omit paragraphs (2), (4) and (5)(a), and

b in regulation 25(1) of the Universal Credit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 (S.R. (N.I.) 2016 No. 216), omit “and in respect of whom an amount may be included under Article 15”.

3 The following provisions of the Universal Credit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 were made under the power repealed by subsection (1)(b) (power to provide for exceptions to the two child limit) and are therefore revoked—

a regulation 25A;

b regulation 25B;

c Schedule 12.

^I3^I33 Extent, commencement and short title¶

1 Section 1 extends to England and Wales and Scotland only.

2 Section 2 extends to Northern Ireland only.

3 This section extends to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

4 Sections 1 and 2 come into force on 6 April 2026.

5 This section comes into force on the day on which this Act is passed.

6 The Secretary of State may by regulations made by statutory instrument make transitional or saving provision in connection with the coming into force of section 1.

7 The Department for Communities in Northern Ireland may by regulations made by statutory rule for the purposes of the Statutory Rules (Northern Ireland) Order 1979 (S.I. 1979/1573 (N.I. 12)) make transitional or saving provision in connection with the coming into force of section 2.

8 This Act may be cited as the Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Act 2026.

Footnotes

I1
S. 1 in force at 6.4.2026, see s. 3(4)
I2
S. 2 in force at 6.4.2026, see s. 3(4)
I3
S. 3 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 3(5)