12/04/2026
𝗙𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗟𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸:
✅ Two-child limit scrapped
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/two-child-limit-scrapped-as-historic-bill-to-lift-450000-children-out-of-poverty-becomes-law
The 2-child limit ended on 6 April 2026. Families who get Universal Credit could now get an extra amount to help support their children. Universal Credit now pays the extra amount for every child. This will predominantly help working families — around sixty per cent of households affected by the two-child limit have a parent in work, and nearly half were not on Universal Credit when any of their children were born.
Since its introduction in 2017, the two-child limit has been the biggest single driver of child poverty. Today, 2.6 million children in the UK don’t have enough food at home, and over 172,000 have no permanent home.
The policy’s removal is the single most cost-effective measure available to the Government to drive down poverty rates. Up to 1.5 million children across Great Britain could be helped by the change, representing the most significant action to tackle child poverty since comparable records began.
✅ Child benefit rate increase
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/millions-of-families-in-line-for-child-benefit-rate-increase
Millions of families claiming Child Benefit will see an increase in their payments this week, as HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) encourages those yet to claim to use the HMRC app or go online to claim theirs today.
From 6 April, claimants will receive £27.05 per week - or £1,406.60 a year - for the eldest or only child and £17.90 per week - or £930.80 a year - for each additional child, with no limit as to how many children parents can claim for. This is an annual increase of £52 and £33.80 respectively.
✅ Huge income boost for millions of pensioners and working people
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/huge-income-boost-for-millions-of-pensioners-and-working-people
Millions of pensioners will receive as much as £470 more a year added to their State Pension, thanks to the government's' ironclad commitment to the pensions Triple Lock throughout this parliament.
This comes alongside the annual uprating of working-age benefits such as Universal Credit, with people receiving those set to receive an extra £150 on average over the course of this year – an increase set to benefit 5.7 million working-age households. Disability benefits such as Disability Living Allowance, Carers Allowance and child benefits are also set to increase by the same amount.
✅ New measures to put neighbourhood bobbies back on beat
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-measures-to-put-neighbourhood-bobbies-back-on-beat
The measures will put prevention at the heart of policing. Under the government’s Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, crimes such as vandalism or antisocial behaviour will be less likely to turn into more serious and violent offences, boosting confidence and security in local communities across Britain.
The Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee will put 13,000 more officers into neighbourhood policing roles by 2029, an increase of more than 50%. The early focus of the plan will be to establish named local officers, target town centre crime and build back neighbourhood policing, meaning hard working people can feel safer and more secure in their daily lives.
✅ Investing in communities
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/local-people-take-the-lead-in-40-more-communities
Neighbourhoods will receive up to £20 million over the next decade, supporting locally-led solutions shaped by the people who know their areas best – not imposed from Whitehall.
From saving youth centres and repairing playgrounds, to bringing empty buildings back into community use and expanding affordable after‑school activities – the Pride in Place programme has been designed to deliver improvements that matter to residents. And in many areas, neighbours are coming together to protect vital local services and create new spaces that bring people together.
Locally, Parkwood, Mangravet, Shepway and Senacre will all see much-needed improvements through this scheme.
