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Confirmed: How The £293 Universal Credit Boost Per Child Will Be Paid From April 2026

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Universal Credit claimants across the UK are scrutinising the latest government announcements, particularly the highly publicised "£293 boost per child." As of today, December 19, 2025, the figure is dominating financial news, but its true meaning is often misunderstood. This article cuts through the noise to confirm that the £293 is a rounded representation of the new monthly Child Element rate, and the real 'boost' is a landmark policy change set to radically alter payments for multi-child families from April 2026.

The core of this financial uplift is tied directly to the forthcoming abolition of the controversial two-child limit. This change means families with a third or subsequent child, previously excluded from receiving a payment for that child, will begin to receive the full monthly Child Element. For the 2025/2026 financial year, the rate for this element is confirmed to be £292.81 per eligible child, making the "£293 boost" an accurate, if slightly rounded, headline figure for the additional support.

The £293 Universal Credit Boost: Clarifying the New Monthly Child Element

The confusion surrounding the "£293 boost" stems from its dual meaning in recent policy discussions. While the figure has been used in political proposals to highlight the financial benefit of certain changes, it is fundamentally the monthly rate of the Universal Credit Child Element.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) officially confirms that Universal Credit rates, like other benefits, are subject to an annual uprating, typically based on the September Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation figure. For the 2025/2026 financial year, Universal Credit rates are scheduled to increase by 1.7% from April 2025.

Universal Credit Child Element Rates (April 2025 to March 2026)

The Child Element is the part of your Universal Credit award intended to help with the costs of raising a child. The current rates for the 2025/2026 period are as follows:

  • For the first or only child born before 6 April 2017: £333.33 per month (Higher Rate)
  • For any other child (including the first child born on or after 6 April 2017): £292.81 per month (Standard Rate)

It is this standard rate of £292.81 that is being rounded up to the "£293 boost." For a family to receive a "boost" of this amount, it means they are now eligible to receive the Child Element for a child who was previously excluded.

The Landmark Policy Change: Scrapping the Two-Child Limit in 2026

The most significant and fresh news driving the "£293 boost" headlines is the government's official confirmation that the two-child limit on Universal Credit is being removed. This policy, which has been in place since April 2017, restricted the Child Element to the first two children in a family, with a few exceptions.

The government announced in November 2025 that the two-child limit will be completely scrapped from April 2026. This is the moment when the "boost" becomes a reality for hundreds of thousands of families.

Who Will Benefit from the April 2026 Change?

The removal of the limit will have a profound impact on low-income households. Families claiming Universal Credit with three or more children, where at least one of the children was born after the April 2017 cut-off date, stand to benefit the most.

  • The Financial Uplift: For a third or subsequent child who was previously not eligible, the family will receive an additional £292.81 per month (based on the 2025/2026 rate) for each newly eligible child. This is the true 'boost' that the headlines are referring to.
  • Impact on Child Poverty: Anti-poverty campaigners and social policy experts have long argued that abolishing the limit is the single most effective way to cut child poverty. Estimates suggest that around 300,000 children are currently affected by the two-child limit.

This long-awaited change is set to provide a major financial lifeline and a significant boost to the living standards for some of the poorest families in the UK.

Navigating Universal Credit Child Elements and Allowances

To maintain topical authority and ensure a full understanding of the benefit system, it is crucial to distinguish the Child Element from other related payments, especially since the number £293 has caused confusion with a separate Universal Credit component: the Work Allowance.

Work Allowance vs. Child Element

Prior to recent changes, the lower Universal Credit Work Allowance was set at £293 per month for claimants who received help with housing costs. The Work Allowance is the amount of money a claimant can earn before their Universal Credit payment starts to be reduced. This figure has since been increased to £355 per month, but its previous rate of £293 is likely another reason why the number is frequently cited in benefit news.

Key Universal Credit Elements Related to Children

Families with children may be eligible for additional payments beyond the standard Child Element, which are not affected by the two-child limit and will continue to be vital components of the total award:

  • Disabled Child Addition: This is an extra amount paid for a child who receives certain disability benefits (like Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment). This addition is paid for all eligible children, even a third or subsequent child, and is separate from the standard Child Element.
  • Childcare Element: Claimants who are working can receive up to 85% of their registered childcare costs back through Universal Credit. The maximum monthly amounts are currently up to £1031.68 for one child or £1768.94 for two or more children. This element is subject to change with uprating.

The combination of the standard Child Element, the Disabled Child Addition, and the Childcare Element forms the comprehensive support package available to working and non-working families under the Universal Credit system. Understanding these different elements is key to maximising a family’s financial stability.

What Claimants Need to Do Next

The "£293 boost" is a positive sign for families, but the full financial impact will not be felt until the two-child limit is officially removed in April 2026. For now, claimants should be aware of the following:

  1. The 2025 Uprating: All current Universal Credit payments, including the Child Element, will see a 1.7% increase from April 2025, raising the standard child component to £292.81 per month.
  2. The 2026 Policy Change: If you currently have three or more children and are only receiving the Child Element for two of them, you will automatically be made eligible for the additional payment for your third and subsequent children when the policy is enacted in April 2026. No new claim is expected to be required for existing claimants.
  3. Check Eligibility: Always use the government's official benefits calculators or seek advice from organisations like Citizens Advice to ensure you are receiving all the elements you are entitled to, such as the Disabled Child Addition or the Childcare Element.

The abolition of the two-child limit is a momentous change that will deliver the promised "£293 boost" to the families who need it most, marking a significant step towards alleviating child poverty in the UK.

Confirmed: How the £293 Universal Credit Boost Per Child Will Be Paid From April 2026
293 universal credit boost per child
293 universal credit boost per child

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