Benefits for families with more than 2 children before 6 April 2026

If you get Universal Credit, you could get an extra amount to help support your children if they normally live with you.   

Universal Credit now pays the extra amount for every child, no matter how many children you have. 

The rules on the benefit cap stay the same. Additional Universal Credit payments for each child will count towards the benefit cap. This means that if your total benefits go over the benefit cap amounts for your circumstances, the increase in your Universal Credit may be limited.  

Before 6 April 2026, the extra amount for children only applied to your first and second child, unless an exception applied.

This guidance explains the rules and exceptions that apply if you claimed Universal Credit and had more than 2 children before 6 April 2026.

Overview of the rules and exceptions before 6 April 2026

If you were already getting benefits for more than 2 children, you’ll continue to get those benefits.

Before 6 April 2026, you will not be paid an additional amount for more than 2 children, unless the children were born before 6 April 2017 or special circumstances, known as ‘exceptions’ apply.

By child (or qualifying young person) we mean anyone aged under 16, or a young person aged under 20 who enrolled on, accepted or started full-time non-advanced education, such as A-levels, or approved training before they turned 19.

If you’ve already claimed Universal Credit

If you claimed Universal Credit in the previous 6 months but it was stopped for a period of time, you’ll get the same support if you re-claimed, as long as you remained responsible for the same children and your circumstances remain the same.

If you become responsible for another child

You should report the birth of a child in the usual way for Universal Credit so that we can decide if an additional amount can be paid.

In general, you’ll be entitled to an additional amount for any child or qualifying young person born before 6 April 2017.