| answer text |
<p>Families on benefits should have to make the same financial decisions as families
supporting themselves solely through work. However, in recognition that some claimants
are not able to make choices about the number of children in their family the government
has provided exceptions in certain cases. Following debate in parliament and a public
consultation, the government introduced regulations that allow exceptions to apply
in cases where the third or subsequent children are:</p><p> </p><ul><li><p>part of
a multiple birth, although it does not cover one child in that birth on the grounds
that the parents would have expected the pregnancy to have resulted in at least one
birth;</p><p> </p></li><li><p>children who are adopted when they would otherwise be
in Local Authority care;</p><p> </p></li><li><p>in non-parental caring arrangements,
including formal arrangements (e.g. Child Arrangement Orders, Special Guardianship
Orders, certain Scottish Kinship Care Orders etc) and informal arrangements where
the child is living long terms with friends or family and would otherwise be at risk
of entering the care system;</p><p> </p></li><li><p>born as a result of non-consensual
conception (including cases of rape or coercion and control).</p></li></ul><p>Statistics
relating to exceptions to the limit on support to two children in Child Tax Credit
will be published once there are sufficient cases to enable robust analysis and the
data has been quality assured.</p><p> </p>
|
|
