Communications regarding the removal of the Universal Credit Two Child Limit

The Universal Credit (UC) Two Child Limit will be scrapped from 6 April 2026.   

As a focus of our policy advocacy over many years, we are pleased that the removal of this policy will shortly come into effect.  

During our recent evidence session to the Committee for Communities on the Universal Credit (Removal of the two child limit) Bill, we called upon the Department for Communities (DfC) to increase communication and provide information on the logistics of this change.  

Therefore, we are pleased that the DfC have confirmed the following:  

• Claimants must ensure that the information which has been provided to UC is up to date so that their assessment can be calculated correctly;  

• UC claimants who will be affected by this change will receive a notification in their journal;  

• The exact amount received by an affected UC claimant will depend upon their circumstances;  

• Any increased payment will be received from May or June (depending upon the dates of the claimants assessment period);  

• Information will be updated on NI Direct, and messaging will be shared on social media. 

We encourage claimants who have queries about their entitlement or how this change will impact upon them, to contact their local advice organisation.