Lisa White, a 31-year-old stay-at-home mother from Monmouth, Wales, expects her family’s monthly benefits to increase by approximately £900 following the Government’s decision to scrap the two-child benefit cap in the recent Autumn Budget.
Lisa and her partner, David White, 35, are parents to five children aged between three and ten. The family has relied heavily on Universal Credit and child benefits since David was forced to leave his job due to mental health challenges.
Currently, the Whites receive around £1,900 in benefits each month, but Lisa anticipates that, starting from April, this will rise to about £2,770, thanks to the changes introduced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
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Describing the announcement as “very beneficial” for her children, Lisa highlighted how the increased support will enable her son Marley, who is passionate about football, to join an after-school club for the first time. She also hopes to enroll her daughter Layla, a talented dancer, in dance classes and is considering swimming lessons for their younger children.
“The cost of living has hit us hard, especially with the food bill for our family of seven becoming astronomical,” Lisa explained. “We’ve had to scrimp and save, which meant we couldn’t afford after-school activities until now.”
While Lisa notes that the benefit cap removal will not drastically change her financial situation, she emphasizes its positive impact on her children’s opportunities and wellbeing.
“It’s wonderful to see that children who didn’t previously qualify are now recognised and supported like their older siblings,” she said. “This extra money will make a real difference in the long run, allowing my children to participate in activities they love.”