Open petition: Limit Child Benefit to one child and offer tax relief for more children

Created by Elliott Grimes
Closes on 5 May 2027

Cap statutory Child Benefit at a maximum of one child per household. For every subsequent child (second, third, fourth, etc.), grant working parents an additional tax-free Personal Allowance on their income tax code.

The UK faces falling birth rates, but policy should reward working households rather than expanding direct welfare transfers. Restricting Child Benefit to one child preserves a basic safety net. For subsequent children, shifting to income tax allowances lowers marginal tax rates for working parents, reduces reliance on direct state payouts, and encourages workforce participation for families having more children.

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