Last week, Chancellor Rachel Reeves also signalled she may lift the cap, which currently means families cannot claim child benefits for more than their first two children.
“I don’t think that it’s right that a child is penalised because they are in a bigger family, through no fault of their own,” she told the BBC.
Campaigners say removing the two-child limit in the autumn budget is the most effective way to protect children from hunger, give them a decent start in life, and help them reach their potential.
Every family should be able to afford food and heating.
But the two-child benefit cap is pushing families to the edge. Many of them are working.
Removing the cap is the simplest way to protect struggling families – help us call for change now 👉 https://t.co/lFxIMAi611 pic.twitter.com/wwMBH3N5aU
— Trussell (@TrussellUK) November 17, 2025
The letter says: Dear Prime Minister. We are writing to implore that you fully remove the cruel two-child limit which is pushing 109 more children into hardship every single day. Ending it is the right thing to do – we need you to do it now.
“The two-child limit, which restricts support from the social security system to two children, even when their parents can work, is punishing children for their existence and pushing families to food banks. We cannot stand by while this continues to happen.
“Millions more people are facing hunger than a couple of years ago, and families with children are at particularly high risk. 4 in 10 families with 3 or more children face hunger, around twice as high as the rate for families with one or two children and almost 1 in 3 (29%) food bank parcels provided by the Trussell community go to families with three or more children, despite them making up just 11% of the UK population. This is not right.”
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The letter continues: “Every week, food banks meet parents who’ve been doing everything they can to protect their children from hunger. Skipping meals for weeks so there’s enough for the kids to eat, making games out of wrapping up in blankets to avoid turning on the heating, trying to pretend everything’s okay – but it’s not okay.
“Removing the two-child limit is the most effective way to protect children from hunger, give them a decent start in life, and help them reach their potential – there is no time to waste in a child’s life. It is your duty to act on your commitment to tackling child poverty – we need you to fully remove the two-child limit now.”
It is then signed by the following well-known faces:
- Simon Pegg
- Bill Nighy
- Mark Bonnar
- Jason Manford
- Stanley Tucci
- Joely Richardson
- Kalvin Phillips
- Jodie Whittaker
- Anna Maxwell Martin
- Christopher Eccleston
- Tyrone Mings
- Romesh Ranganathan
- Si King
- Charlotte Ritchie
- Tom Grennan
- Aisling Bea
- Ben Willbond
- James Acaster
- Miquita Oliver
- Levi Roots
- Tom Kerridge
- Becky Hill
- Brian Cox
- Rosemary Shrager
- Adam Buxton
- Jason Isaacs
- AJ Odudu
- Julie Graham
- Daisy May Cooper
- Charlie Cooper
- Lydia West
- Arabella Weir
- Arlene Phillips
- Kellie Shirley
- Glenn Tilbrook
- Daisy Haggard
- Suzi Ruffell
- Rosie Jones
- Mark Hoyle (Ladbaby)
- Rox Hoyle (Ladybaby)
- Teacher Tommy T
- Dr Emeka Okorocha
- Armando Iannucci
- Mike Rosenberg
