FAMILIES in York are being pushed further into poverty by Government benefit policies, a new study suggests.

Researchers from the University of York are studying the impact of the benefit cap and the two-child limit on larger families. The benefit cap limits the total amount of benefit income some low-earning or non-employed households can receive. The two-child limit restricts the support provided to families through Tax Credits and Universal Credit to two children in a household (for children born after April 2017).

Early findings show affected families are being priced out of basic necessities including food, clothes, furniture, rent, gas and electricity, as a result of the restrictions. The research team is now keen to hear from more families in York, to find out their experiences of these policies.

Larger families have always faced a higher risk of poverty in the UK, but changes to benefit policies and rules in recent years are expected to have increased this risk even further.

As well as the material impact, the lack of money and an inability to meet household needs commonly leads to depression, stress, worry, insomnia and tiredness.

The researchers are interviewing parents and carers who have three or more children, and who are affected by the two-child limit and/or the benefit cap.

Participants will receive a £20 voucher as a thank you for taking part, and all interviews are confidential.

Kate Andersen, from the research team, said: “We think it’s vital to understand the impact of these new policies, and know that one of the best ways to do that is to talk directly and learn from those who have been affected by them.

York Press: Kate Anderson, from the research team

"So if you’re a parent with three or more children and you are affected by the two child-limit or benefit cap, we would love to hear from you.”

The work is a collaboration between the universities of York and Oxford and the London School of Economics, in conjunction with Child Poverty Action Group, and is funded by the Nuffield Foundation. Several people from York and elsewhere in Yorkshire have already taken part, but researchers are looking for five more families in York.

One York parent who has taken part said lifting the two-child limit would enable their family to loosen the grip of poverty. They said it would make “a lot of difference,” adding: “Obviously, it’s 230 quid. You can do a lot more with it, you can go out more places.”

Another parent who took part from elsewhere in Yorkshire said: “It’s a struggle, like the nappies, wipes, baby food. They [the Government] should be made aware that basically that’s the situation that we’re in, we’re struggling to get the most basic items.”

Another said: “The money we’ve got for three kids, we have to manage that for four kids. To be honest, we can’t go anywhere to do anything.”

Parents also cited the mental health impact of the policies. One said they had started suffering from insomnia, and another said: “It’s just been really bad, it’s just been really, really difficult, it’s especially impacted my mental health...wish I didn’t have to worry financially with ‘am I gonna be able to put meals on my kids’ table?.”

To find out more or take part contact Kate Andersen on benefits-study@york.ac.uk or 07385 422587.