In December 2025, the government published its Child Poverty Strategy, titled “Our Children, Our Future: Tackling Child Poverty.” It is a 10-year plan designed to lift 550,000 children out of poverty by 2030. The strategy is built on removing the two-child limit, expanding free school meals, creating Best Start Family Hubs, and launching a £1 billion Crisis and Resilience Fund.
Now that we are past the April 2026 key implementation dates, it is worth stepping back and looking at what this strategy actually means for ordinary UK families. Some parts are transformational. Some parts are modest. Some parts are yet to come.
Here is the honest, practical breakdown of what is happening and what it means for your family this year.
The Scale of the Problem
Currently, around 4.5 million children in the UK are living in poverty. That is approximately 1 in 3 children. Child poverty has risen by 900,000 since 2010. The last Labour government (1997-2010) reduced it by around 600,000 children, demonstrating that meaningful policy change can shift the numbers significantly.
The Child Poverty Strategy aims to reverse this rise. The government projects that by the end of this Parliament (financial year ending 2030), 550,000 children will be lifted out of relative poverty after housing costs. This would be the largest single-Parliament reduction in child poverty since records began in the 1990s.
However, even with this reduction, approximately 4 million children will remain in poverty. Advocacy groups including The Children’s Society have criticised the strategy for not going far enough and for not including legally binding targets.
What Has Already Happened
Two-child limit scrapped (6 April 2026)
The flagship policy of the strategy took effect on 6 April 2026. Families with three or more children can now claim the child element of Universal Credit (£303.94 per month per child, or £3,647 per year) for every child, not just the first two. This is projected to lift 450,000 children out of poverty. The House of Commons Library estimates around 570,000 households will gain an average of £450 a month (£5,400 a year) by 2030/31. In the current year, around 480,000 households are expected to benefit. Read our full guide: Two-Child Limit Scrapped.
National Living Wage increase (1 April 2026)
The National Living Wage has increased by 4.1% to £12.71 per hour for workers aged 21 and over. For a worker on a 37.5-hour week, this means £977 more per year in gross pay. The minimum wage for 18-20 year olds has increased by 8.5% to £10.85 per hour as part of the government’s commitment to closing the gap with the National Living Wage.
Universal Credit standard allowance increase (6 April 2026)
The standard allowance has increased by approximately 6.2%, combining an inflation-linked rise with an additional uplift. The government has committed to uprating Universal Credit annually in line with inflation over the next four years. This provides some certainty for families budgeting for the future.
£1 billion Crisis and Resilience Fund (April 2026)
This fund replaces the Household Support Fund and Discretionary Housing Payments. It provides multi-year funding certainty to local authorities in England to deliver crisis support and poverty prevention. If you are struggling with essential costs (food, energy, housing), contact your local council’s welfare or support team. Funding levels vary by council but the overall pot is significantly larger than before.
Statutory Sick Pay from day one (6 April 2026)
SSP is now payable from day one of sickness absence, and all workers are entitled regardless of earnings. Previously, the first three days were unpaid and workers needed to earn at least £123 per week to qualify. SSP has also risen from £118.75 to £123.25 per week. For working parents who have to take time off when children are ill, this is a meaningful change.
Day-one paternity and parental leave (6 April 2026)
Paternity leave and unpaid parental leave are now available from your first day of employment. Previously, fathers needed 26 weeks of service for paternity leave. Statutory paternity pay still requires 26 weeks’ continuous service. Statutory Maternity Pay, paternity pay, adoption pay, shared parental pay, and parental bereavement pay have all risen from £187.18 to £194.32 per week. Bereaved partner paternity leave has also been introduced, giving partners up to 52 weeks of leave if a mother or primary adopter dies. Read our full guide: New Parental Leave Rights.
What Is Coming Later in 2026
Free school meals expansion (September 2026)
From the start of the 2026 school year, every pupil in state-funded schools whose household is on Universal Credit will be entitled to free school meals. Currently, the income threshold is just £7,400 per year. Removing this threshold brings over 500,000 additional children into the scheme and saves families approximately £500 per child per year. Read our full guide: Free School Meals Expansion.
Free breakfast clubs expansion (September 2026)
Half a million more children will benefit from free breakfast clubs from September 2026. Applications have opened for the next wave of 500 schools with 40% of pupils on free school meals. Schools with the highest proportion of free school meals are being prioritised. The clubs save working parents up to £450 per year and give back up to 95 hours of time.
School uniform cost cap (September 2026)
Schools will be limited to requiring a maximum of three branded uniform items. They will also be required to offer second-hand uniform options before the start of the new school year. The Children’s Society estimates this could save families hundreds of pounds per child.
Increased childcare costs claim for larger families
Families with three or more children who use childcare can now claim an additional £736.06 per additional child through Universal Credit. This recognises that larger families face proportionally higher childcare costs.
What Is Coming in 2027 and Beyond
Best Start Family Hubs
The government has committed over £500 million to create up to 1,000 Best Start Family Hubs across every local authority in England by 2028. These hubs will offer free classes, events, activities, health visitor support, financial advice, and parenting guidance. An additional £200 million has been allocated to these hubs for dedicated SEND outreach and support. Some pilot hubs are already operating. Check with your local council to see if one is available near you.
Early Years Pupil Premium increase
The Early Years Pupil Premium in England has increased by 45% from £388 per child per year to £570. This money goes to early years settings to support disadvantaged children under five. You will not see this money directly but it funds extra support in your child’s nursery or preschool.
Temporary accommodation investment
The government is investing £950 million through the Local Authority Housing Fund from April 2026 to deliver up to 5,000 high-quality homes for better temporary accommodation by 2030. The strategy also aims to end the unlawful placement of families in Bed and Breakfasts beyond the six-week legal limit.
30 hours free childcare expansion
30 hours of free childcare is now available to all eligible working parents with children aged nine months to school age. This saves eligible families up to £7,500 per year.
Pride in Place Programme
Up to £5 billion of funding is being directed to 244 of the most in-need places in Great Britain, with communities having the option to invest in measures to address child poverty locally.
What Is Not In the Strategy
Several things that charities and campaigners asked for are not included in the strategy. Understanding the gaps is as important as understanding what is included.
The benefit cap has not been abolished. This means that around 70,000 families subject to the cap will not see the full benefit of the two-child limit removal. The benefit cap limits total Universal Credit to £22,020 per year outside London and £25,323 in London.
No legally binding targets for child poverty reduction. The Children’s Society and others have criticised the lack of enforceable commitments, warning that without targets, future governments could walk back the strategy.
No changes to the five-week wait for first Universal Credit payments. This continues to be a barrier for families making new claims.
The Limited Capability for Work-Related Activity (LCWRA) element of Universal Credit is being reduced for new claimants from April 2026. Existing claimants and those with the most severe conditions continue at the current rate, but new claimants receive around half the previous level. This affects disabled people and has been criticised by Gingerbread, which notes that a third of single parents are disabled.
What Should Your Family Do?
Check your Universal Credit statement this month. If you have three or more children, the extra child element should have appeared in your April payment. If not, raise it through your journal.
Apply for Child Benefit if you have not already. Only 72% of families claim in the first year. You are missing money. The new weekly rates are £27.05 for the eldest child and £17.90 for each additional child.
Register for free school meals if your household is on Universal Credit. The eligibility threshold will expand in September but you can apply now if you qualify under current rules. Use our Free School Meals Checker.
If you are struggling with essential costs right now, contact your local council and ask about the Crisis and Resilience Fund. Funding varies by council but it exists to help families in immediate need.
If you are a working single parent, you should be significantly better off in 2026 than in 2025. National Living Wage increase, UC standard allowance rise, sick pay from day one, and potentially extra child element payments all add up. Check your payslip and UC statement to confirm you are getting everything you are entitled to.
For more help, use our Child Benefit Calculator, Free School Meals Checker, and Home Education Cost Calculator.
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