Almost 18,000 Scots families miss out on benefits due to limit

More than 17,800 families in Scotland have been denied benefits as a result of the twochild limit, new figures have shown.

The UK Government policy, which means benefits cannot be claimed for more than two children unless claimants are eligible for an exemption, has proven controversial - regularly coming in for criticism from opposition politicians and third sector organisations.

Statistics released by the Department for Work and Pensions show that on April 2 of this year, there were 17,830 families in Scotland not receiving benefits for at least one of their children.

The figure is an increase of 30 per cent on the previous year, when 13,710 families were in the same situation.

It is estimated the benefits deliver around £2,845 for each child, but they are not paid for the third child in a family or each subsequent one.

One of the exemptions that can be applied to the policy, which impacts Universal Credit and Child Tax Credit, is the non-consensual conception of a child - which has become known as the rape clause.

The clause has created intense opposition in recent years due to its requirement for women to prove they were raped to receive the benefits.

In Scotland, 100 such exemptions were in effect on April 2.

Maggie Chapman, the Scottish Greens' social security spokeswoman, called for the policy to be scrapped and for Scottish ministers to step in and counter it. She said: "The UK Government must end these cruel policies now. But if, or more likely when - because we know their punitive approach to social security they refuse, the Scottish Government can and should step in."

SNP MP Alison Thewliss, a long-time opponent of the policy, said: "In the face of overwhelming evidence about the damage that the two-child limit is inflicting on an everincreasing number of women and children, it is hugely troubling that UK Government ministers remain so obstinately wedded to it.”

A spokesman for the UK Government said: "This policy ensures fairness by asking families on benefits to make the same financial decisions as families supporting themselves solely through work."