LCNI Evidence to the Committee for Communities
Removal of the Two Child Limit is Essential to Tackle Child Poverty.
Today, we welcomed the opportunity for Sarah Corrigan (Director of Legal Services and Engagement), Holly Knox (Policy and Community Engagement Officer) and Siobhán Harding, (Research and Policy Officer at the Women’s Support Network) to provide evidence to the Committee for Communities on the Universal Credit (Removal of the Two-Child Limit) Bill and the associated Legislative Consent Memorandum (LCM).
Child poverty in Northern Ireland remains at crisis levels, with 17,600 children currently excluded from the child element of Universal Credit due to the two-child limit (i). Recent Department for Communities data shows poverty continuing to deepen, highlighting the significance of the steps now underway to address this issue (ii).
Evidence from the Child Poverty Action Group identifies the two-child limit as the primary driver of child poverty and confirms that its removal is the most cost-effective way to reduce it (iii). LCNI have long called for the removal of the two-child limit via our policy advocacy work and as convenors of the Cliff Edge Coalition. We welcome support from the Assembly and Committee to tackle child poverty and prevent long-term social and economic harm.
Whilst we are encouraged by the Assembly’s commitment to the introduction of this Bill, we have identified several practical issues that we have asked the Assembly to consider.
A summary of our three key recommendations are as follows:
- LCNI strongly recommends that the NI Assembly grant the LCM in order to allow the two-child limit to be removed;
- LCNI asks that the NI Assembly and DfC robustly plan for the effective implementation for the removal of the two-child limit. LCNI have identified the following practical considerations which will need to be addressed;
• Timing and commencement in NI;
• Practicalities of the roll out;
• Interaction with NI specific Mitigation Schemes and Discretionary Support;
• The residual Cliff Edges remain;
• Equality impacts specific to NI. - LCNI strongly asks that the advice sector is both engaged and supported in order to ensure the effective, sustainable and successful removal of the two-child limit.
Sarah Corrigan, Director of Legal Services and Engagement commented on the significance of today’s evidence session and the importance of the Assembly passing this vital piece of legislation:
“Law Centre NI has unequivocally recommended that legislative consent is granted to allow the removal of the two-child limit in Northern Ireland. This is an extremely positive and long-overdue step that will make a meaningful difference to thousands of children and families living in poverty. Through both our written submission and our oral evidence to the Committee for Communities today, we were clear that while this reform is welcomed and vital, it must be implemented carefully and effectively to ensure families can fully benefit from the change. Our position is grounded in legal expertise, strategic litigation, and the lived experiences of families and advisers across Northern Ireland, and we urge decision-makers to act without delay while giving due consideration to the practical and equality impacts of implementation.”
Read our full written submission here.
During the oral evidence session, we detailed the specific need for clear and tailored communication for Universal Credit claimants who will be impacted by the removal of the two-child limit, and the potential effect upon claimants in receipt of transitional protection.
In response to questions raised by Committee in this session, we are pleased to have provided the Committee with additional evidence outlining further considerations that must be granted with regards to transitional protection.
This supplementary briefing paper can be read here.
[i] dfc-ni-uc-stats-supp-tables-aug-2025.ods
[ii] dfc-ni-poverty-income-inequality-report-2324-c1-headline-poverty-figures.ods
[iii] Reducing_child_poverty_role_of_two-child_limit_Sep_2025.pdf