Overview
- The plan confirms scrapping the two‑child benefit cap from April 2026, which the government estimates will lift about 450,000 children out of poverty at a cost of roughly £3bn by 2029/30.
- Universal Credit changes will extend upfront childcare support to parents returning from parental leave, with childcare help available for all children in UC families.
- An £8m pilot across 20 councils will aim to stop families being kept in B&Bs beyond six weeks, complemented by £950m to deliver up to 5,000 better temporary homes by 2030.
- Ministers will act to cut infant formula costs through retailer guidance, permission to use loyalty points and vouchers, and adoption of CMA recommendations to help parents choose cheaper options.
- With a record 4.4–4.5 million children living in poverty, the government projects about four million will still be in poverty later this parliament, as charities welcome progress but press for legally binding 10‑year targets.