Campaigning against the two-child benefit cap reminds me how society really sees me as a single mum to three young boys. The policy – which prevents almost all parents on a low-income claiming the child element of universal credit or child tax credits for their third or subsequent child – impacts a shocking 1.6 million children .
It also contributes to almost half of all larger families in the UK living in poverty . As the founder of the campaign group Single Parent Rights , I’ve had the privilege of supporting women to share their stories on how this policy impacts them. Yet when I post the published articles online, I brace myself for the comments that follow.
This is the harsh reality of the two-child benefit cap for families: ‘It’s like wearing a scarlet letter’ Scrap two-child benefit cap to end child poverty, Labour told: ‘Good intentions are not enough’ These stories of strong, independent, loving mothers struggling to make ends meet aren’t always met with the compassion they deserve. Retorts of, “so why did she have more kids?” pack a personal punch for me. It’s a sentiment I heard in the words (and silence) of friends when I announced my third pregnancy.
And one I saw in the looks across the dinner table as I told my family I was expecting – again. Now, as I speak with presenters and journalists through my work, I can almost hear the “so why did you have more kids?” oozing from their questions. In an attempt to keep my head down, I stick.