Reform’s plan to defuse UK ‘benefits bomb’: Robert Jenrick vows to restore two-child benefit cap and force people to PROVE mental health problems before getting cash in ‘Brits only’ system

The reform will reintroduce the two-child benefit limit and force people claiming mental health disability benefit to prove they are unwell before receiving the cash, Robert Jenrick said today.

His election as Chancellor if the party wins the next election would impose a major restriction on aid designed to fix a ‘broken’ system, he said.

In his first speech in charge of Reform’s economic policy, former Tory minister Mr Jenrick said he wanted to ‘defuse the welfare bomb set to bankrupt Britain’.

The two-child limit on child benefit eligibility, which was eased by Sir Keir Starmer last year, is to be brought back in a reversal of Nigel Farage’s previous support for ending it.

At the same time, those seeking Personal Independence Payment (PIP) on mental health grounds will have to obtain a clinical diagnosis rather than self-diagnosis.

He said that those with ‘mild anxiety, depression and similar disorders’ will be prohibited from receiving cash and will be directed to work.

The cost of Britain’s main sickness benefit is expected to rise by almost £20bn a year after Labor scrapped reforms.

Mr Jenrick said only British nationals would be eligible for the benefits and also vowed to end the ‘abuse’ of the Motability scheme, which allows PIP claimants to use their money to lease new cars.

Speaking in the city this morning, Mr Jenrick said he was determined to restore ‘fiscal discipline’ to the government system.

‘Our help system is broken. “This is not fair, it is not right, it is an economic and moral disaster,” he said.

‘That’s why I promise you today that if we win the next election, Reformation will defuse the aid bomb set to bankrupt Britain.’

But Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride said: ‘How can someone who changes his policies every five minutes trust a word Reformation says?

‘They said they would lift the two-child benefit limit and now they say they won’t. Farage says he wants to scrap OBR; Now they say he will stay.

‘They made £140bn of unfunded commitments in the elections, now they don’t know which ones they stand behind.

‘Their policies are never thought through and their numbers never add up. They are just like the Labor Party; ‘They’ll make big promises but have no plans to actually deliver on them.’

The government announced in its autumn budget that the two-child limit will be removed from April.

Seven Labor MPs were previously suspended for voting against the Government in support of motions to abolish it.

The cap prevented parents from claiming universal credit or tax credits for more than their first two children.

It was introduced by the Conservative government in 2017 and was widely criticized by Labor MPs and anti-poverty advocacy groups.

The move is estimated to cost £3bn by 2029-30, according to the OBR.

Mr Farage has previously said he would support lifting the cap to encourage people to have more children. The same claim was made by Reform’s education spokesperson, Suella Braverman.

Just last week Mr Jenrick said the policy was ‘sensible’. But today he in question: ‘The reform changes our policy on the two-child ceiling for universal credit. The policy was well-intentioned.

‘We want to help British working families have more children. But right now we can’t afford to do this with prosperity. So he has to go.’

Sir Keir described Reform UK’s promise to reintroduce the two-child benefit limit as ‘disgraceful’.

Additionally, official forecasts revealed last month revealed that PIP’s annual bill was predicted to rise from £25.9bn with Labor taking office to a staggering £44.9bn by the end of the decade.

Paying just for the increase would be equivalent to putting 2p on all income tax rates.

Last year Sir Keir abandoned plans to try to block an increase in PIP payments following a rebellion by Labor supporters.

Government sources have confirmed that despite ministers paying lip service to the need for welfare reform, the next King’s Speech in May will not feature any legislation on the issue.

Nigel Farage’s pick for Chancellor if Reform wins the next election says the party will impose a major clampdown on aid designed to fix a ‘broken’ system

The total number of UC claimants in Britain reached 8.34 million in December 2025, up almost a million from 7.36 million 12 months earlier.

Data released Tuesday shows that more than three-quarters of that increase (775,790) was due to people switching to UC from other benefits, not new claims.

The rollout of UC across Britain should be completed this year, with all beneficiaries of inheritance rights moving to UC by March, the government has said.

The process of transferring people from older forms of benefit to universal credit (known as ‘managed transition’ of claimants) began on a small scale in May 2022 and was accelerated in April 2023.

Mr Jenrick said he would protect the OBR and maintain the independence of the Bank of England, but said: Both need reform if their party wins.

He criticized the budget watchdog and promised to bring in more outside, proven forecasting expertise to bring in superforecasters through competitions.

Reform UK would make ‘life easier’ for businesses by cutting red tape and diversity targets if the party were in power.

Reform The UK government will support the expansion of Heathrow Airport with emergency legislation if necessary to keep the project going, with Mr Jenrick adding: ‘We will ensure businesses have the grid connections they need to invest in artificial intelligence, robotics and manufacturing.

‘And we will legislate to implement important infrastructure projects that have been stalemated for too long.’