Bills · Government Bill · 2024-26

Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Act 2026: stages, votes and documents

The Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Act 2026 received Royal Assent on 18 March 2026, 69 days after its first reading in the House of Commons on 8 January 2026. MPs divided on it 3 times between 3 February 2026 and 23 February 2026; the narrowest margin was 183 (New Clause 3).

What the bill is for

The long title reads:

A Bill to Make provision to remove the two child limit on the child element of universal credit.

Sponsors

• Pat McFadden (Labour, Commons), Department for Work and Pensions
• Baroness Sherlock (Labour, Lords), Department for Work and Pensions

Stages

Commons divisions on this bill

Documents

Act of Parliament

• Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Act 2026 (c. 13) 20 March 2026

Bill

• Bill 359 2024-26 (as introduced) 8 January 2026
• 5901171.pdf · 5901171.html · 5901171.xml 24 February 2026

Explanatory Notes

• Bill 359 EN 2024-26 8 January 2026
• HL Bill 171 Explanatory Notes · 5901171-EN.pdf 24 February 2026

Impact Assessments

• Final stage Impact Assessment from the Department for Work and Pensions 20 January 2026

Delegated Powers Memorandum

• Delegated Powers Memorandum Department for Work and Pensions to the Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee 8 January 2026

Briefing papers

• Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill 23 January 2026
• Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill: HL Bill 171 of 2024–26 27 February 2026

Official record

• UK Parliament Bills: Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Act 2026

Sources

Open Parliament Licence v3.0

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