Two-child limit removed: how much extra will you get and when?

The two-child limit on Universal Credit was removed on 6 April 2026. If you have three or more children and claim Universal Credit, you should now receive the child element for every child in your household rather than just the first two.

Most families will see the higher payment land in May or June 2026, depending on their assessment period. We will take you through exact amounts, who qualifies, what the benefit cap means for your payment, and what to check in your account right now.

What changed and when

The two-child limit restricted the child element of Universal Credit to the first two children in a household for any child born on or after 6 April 2017. The Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Act 2026 received Royal Assent on 18 March 2026 and took effect from 6 April 2026. 

Before the change, around 1.7 million children in the UK were affected, representing approximately one in nine children. Families were missing out on the child element for each excluded child. 

The change applies automatically to all existing UC claims. Families do not need to contact the DWP or make a new claim.

How much is the child element in 2026/27?

The child element for 2026/27 is £303.94 per month for each child born on or after 6 April 2017. For a first child born before that date the rate is £351.88 per month. These are the confirmed DWP rates from 6 April 2026.

The table below shows the additional monthly and annual amounts a family can expect for children beyond the first two, using the 2026/27 rate.

These figures represent the gross child element before any taper or benefit cap deductions. Your actual UC payment may be lower depending on earnings, savings, or whether the benefit cap applies to your household. 

When will the payment arrive?

Universal Credit is paid monthly in arrears. The DWP applies the two-child limit removal to assessment periods starting on or after 6 April 2026. If your assessment period began before that date, the updated rate will not appear until your next assessment period.

For existing claimants, the DWP confirms the increased payment will arrive in May or June 2026 depending on individual assessment period dates. 

Log into your UC account at gov.uk to check your statement and confirm the child element for each child appears correctly. If a third or subsequent child is missing, raise it through your online journal or call the UC helpline on 0800 328 5644.

Does the benefit cap affect your payment?

The overall benefit cap was not changed as part of this legislation and remains in place. For families whose total UC entitlement exceeds the cap, the additional child element may be offset in full or in part.

The confirmed 2026/27 benefit cap levels are: £25,323 per year for couples or single claimants with children in Greater London (£2,110.25 per month); £22,020 per year outside London (£1,835 per month). The government estimates around 70,000 families will not receive the full increase as a result of the cap. 

The benefit cap does not apply to households where:

•        you or your partner are in work and earn at least £881 per month combined

•        you or your partner receive PIP, DLA, Attendance Allowance, or the carer element of UC

•        you are within a nine-month grace period after leaving employment

 The earnings threshold for the cap exemption in 2026/27 is £881 per month, confirmed by the DWP higher work allowance rate. 

If you are unsure whether the cap applies to your household, the Money Wellness benefits calculator provides a personalised breakdown at no cost. Citizens Advice (0800 144 8848) can also support you in working out what is out there for you.

What if you are not currently claiming Universal Credit?

If you have three or more children and are not on Universal Credit, it is worth checking your eligibility. The removal of the two-child limit increases the potential value of a UC claim for larger families.

The government's impact assessment projects that 480,000 households will benefit from the change in 2026/27, and that 450,000 fewer children will be in relative poverty by the final year of this Parliament as a result. 

What to do now

1.     Log into your UC account at gov.uk and check that every child in your household appears on your claim and has a child element listed. If any child is missing, add them through your journal or call the helpline.

2.     Check your next statement date. If the increased payment is not in your May assessment, it should appear in June. Flag it through your journal if it has not arrived by then.

3.     If you are close to the benefit cap, use the Money Wellness calculator or speak to Citizens Advice before assuming you will not receive the increase. Some households near the cap will still see a partial uplift.