Blackpool mother of five children tells of what scrapping the two-child benefit cap would mean to her
As both Blackpool MPs call for the government for the make removing the cap an 'essential part' of ending child poverty
A 29-year-old mum of five from Blackpool has told of how lifting the two-child benefit cap would 'mean a lot to her'.
Sascha Walkden, who lives in the central area of Blackpool, says the cost of everyday items and heating bills mean she's regularly having to cut back on what her children can do during the week.
She has five children aged 12, 10, nine, eight and three months.
Sascha told The Blackpool Lead: "It's a struggle because everyday items are so expensive these days, especially the electricity bills.
"My youngest is on dairy free milk and the doctor won't prescribe this until he sees a dietician so we are having to pay for each tub - which is about £25 to £30 and they only last a week. We aren't entitled to any help for it.
"We have all had to make changes to help us get by, the children are asking to go to clubs and we can't afford them.
"Lifting the two-child benefit cap would mean a lot and means children can do the extra activity they want to do. And that we won't need to make the changes just so we can afford baby's milk."
The current cap on claiming either child tax credit or universal credit for each child born after a second child is costing the likes of Sacha around £3,200 a year per extra child, according to research by Resolution Foundation think tank.
She still receives child benefit for her children, as this is not restricted based on the number of children you have (although the amount given per child reduces the more children you have).
The numbers behind child poverty in Blackpool
With nearly a third of Blackpool's children are estimated to be living in poverty - the highest level in the North West and the second highest in England.
Of these figures from the Department for Work and Pensions show 5,200 children aged up to 15 are in 'absolute low income families'.
Some wards in the town, such as Bloomfield, Claremont and Brunswick have more than 40 per cent of children living in low-income families.
And more Blackpool families are relying on Universal Credit. Figures in November 2021 showed while the number of households on Universal Credit was reducing, the number of households on Universal Credit with one or more children had increased by nearly 300 in less than six months.
There are 1,487 households with three or more children in Blackpool who are on Universal Credit.
The Joint Strategic Needs Assessment for Blackpool states: "Child poverty rates are highest for children living in workless families (over 70%), however the proportion of children living in poverty despite one or more parents working has been steadily increasing since 2010, and having parents in work is not a guaranteed route out of poverty."
Both of Blackpool's MPs back 'scrapping the cap'
Blackpool South MP Chris Webb and Blackpool North & Fleetwood MP Lorraine Beavers have both told The Blackpool Lead they support removing the two-child benefit limit.
Mr Webb told The Blackpool Lead: "The two-child benefit cap was announced by the Conservatives in 2015 as part of David Cameron and George Osborne's ideological austerity measures. It’s punitive, ideological and cruel and I do not support keeping it.
"I trust that this Government will make the best decision on what measures to put in place to alleviate child poverty and I will be pushing to see that scrapping as soon as financially possible."
Mr Webb said he had spoken with Liz Kendall, Secretary of State for the DWP, in July to outline the challenges with child poverty in Blackpool.
As well as lobbying Kendall then Webb pointed to his volunteer driving experience with Blackpool Food Bank.
He said: "I know what it’s like on the frontline of this crisis. For too long the third sector and charitable individuals have been desperately scrambling to fill the gap that the state has left wide open and allowed people to fall into. That can’t go on."
Lorraine Beavers told The Blackpool Lead the wider work to try and eradicate child poverty was welcome and it was 'essential' the two-child benefit cap was lifted as part of it.
She told The Blackpool Lead: “A significant number of children in my constituency are living in poverty, and I am determined that we must do more to support them.
"After 14 years of Tory under-investment, there are now over 4 million children in poverty across the country. Tackling this is an urgent issue and it is one that ministers in this Labour Government understand and are committed to addressing.
"The government has established a Child Poverty Taskforce to begin this work immediately. This unit will bring together experts from across government and external organizations to explore the most effective ways of addressing child poverty.
"I remain of the view that scrapping the two-child benefit limit is an essential part of this effort. I want residents to know that I will be monitoring the progress of this unit closely and will doing my part in Westminster to speak up for voters in Blackpool North and Fleetwood on this issue.”
Did Sascha give any thought to not having a fifth child, given her circumstances?