Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Act 2026
Summary
The Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Act 2026 removes the two-child limit that restricted the child element of universal credit to two children per household. The Act amends section 10 of the Welfare Reform Act 2012 by omitting subsection (1A) and associated provisions in the Welfare Reform and Work Act 2016. Amendments take effect for assessment periods commencing on or after 6 April 2026, applying to both Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Affected families with three or more children receiving universal credit will become eligible for the child element for all children, representing a significant increase in benefit entitlement for low-income households with multiple children.
Universal credit administrators should review existing cases where the two-child limit was applied and prepare for claims to be extended to additional children from 6 April 2026. Transitional or saving provisions may be made by regulations under section 3(6) — administrators should monitor for any such regulations.
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GovPing monitors UK Public General Acts (legislation.gov.uk) for new courts & legal regulatory changes. Every update since tracking began is archived, classified, and available as free RSS or email alerts — 2 changes logged to date.
What changed
The Act removes the two-child limit on universal credit's child element by amending the Welfare Reform Act 2012 (section 10(1A)) and the Welfare Reform and Work Act 2016 (section 14), along with revoking regulations 24A, 24B, and Schedule 12 of the Universal Credit Regulations 2013. The same amendments apply to Northern Ireland under the Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015. The changes take effect for assessment periods commencing on or after 6 April 2026.\n\nWelfare advisers, local authorities administering universal credit, and HM Revenue & Customs should update systems to process claims for additional children previously excluded by the two-child limit. Families who previously had their child element restricted to two children may be entitled to backdated adjustments for the period from 6 April 2026.
Archived snapshot
Apr 23, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Changes over time for: Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Act 2026
Alternative versions:
- 18/03/2026 - Amendment
- 06/04/2026 - Amendment
- 06/04/2026 Point in time
Status:
Point in time view as at 06/04/2026.
Changes to legislation:
There are currently no known outstanding effects for the Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Act 2026.
Changes to Legislation
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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.
[18th March 2026]
B e 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:—
1 Removal of two child limit: GB E+W+S
(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 —
(a) in section 14 of the Welfare Reform and Work Act 2016, omit subsections (2), (4) and (5) (a), and
(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 (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 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.
Commencement Information
I1 S. 1 in force at 6.4.2026, see s. 3(4)
2 Removal of two child limit: NI N.I.
(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 —
(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 (power to provide for exceptions to the two child limit) and are therefore revoked—
(a) regulation 25A;
(b) regulation 25B;
(c) Schedule 12.
(4) The amendments made by 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 2 of the Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015.
Commencement Information
I2 S. 2 in force at 6.4.2026, see s. 3(4)
3 Extent, commencement and short title U.K.
(1) extends to England and Wales and Scotland only.
(2) extends to Northern Ireland only.
(3) extends to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
(4) and come into force on 6 April 2026.
(5) 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 .
(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 .
(8) This Act may be cited as the Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Act 2026.
Commencement Information
I3 S. 3 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 3(5)
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