AROUND 200,000 children will be pushed into poverty by the government’s ‘two-child limit’ – which came into force on 6 April this year.

This restriction of child tax credit and universal credit for new babies and new claims will mean alreadystruggling families will find it even harder to provide the essentials for their kids, like food, clothing and a warm home.

The rules on tax credits have changed so that, if you are a parent who has a third or fourth baby after this date, you will get no additional credit for that child.

In almost all cases, only your first two children will qualify for tax credits.

This rule will also apply from November 2018 to new claimants who already have more than two children, including those who lose their job, or whose circumstances change in other ways, through no fault of their own.

Most people affected by this change are in lowpaid jobs.

They are all trying to do their best to bring up the next generation.

As a nation, we should be supporting them rather than penalising them

TERESA SMITH

Warnborough Road, Oxford