#2026/68The Social Security (Removal of Two Child Limit) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026

These Regulations, made by the Northern Ireland Department for Communities on 30 March 2026 and coming into force on 6 April 2026, implement consequential amendments following the removal of the two-child limit on social security benefits in Northern Ireland. The two-child limit previously restricted child tax credit and Universal Credit child elements to the first two children in a household. The Regulations amend three pieces of existing legislation: the Housing Benefit Regulations, the Universal Credit (Transitional Provisions) Regulations, and the Social Security (Restrictions on Amounts for Children and Qualifying Young Persons) (Amendment) Regulations 2026. These amendments ensure that the broader benefit framework is updated consistently with the policy change removing the two-child cap. The changes align Northern Ireland's social security rules with the policy direction of abolishing the per-child benefit restriction that had been in place since 2017. Families with three or more children will now be able to claim child-related benefit elements for all their children, not just the first two. Regulation 2 and part of Regulation 4 were made with the consent of the Department of Finance.

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