Reform Party’s Robert Jenrick declares plan to restrict benefits to British nationals, restore two-child cap, and reform PIP payments amid warnings of soaring welfare costs in the UK

Reform Party’s economic chief, Robert Jenrick, has laid out a bold plan to overhaul the UK’s welfare system, promising major changes to child benefits and disability payments.

Speaking in the City today, the former Tory minister said the goal is to “defuse the benefits bomb” threatening Britain’s finances, and insisted that Reform will restore fiscal discipline if it wins the next general election.

Jenrick’s speech marked his first in charge of the party’s economic policy and signaled a dramatic shift in welfare priorities, particularly for working families and those claiming benefits on mental health grounds.

Restoring the Two-Child Cap

One of the headline promises is the return of the two-child cap for child benefits, which was temporarily eased by Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer last year.

The cap, originally introduced by the Conservative government in 2017, restricts universal credit or tax credit claims to the first two children in a household.

Jenrick framed the policy as a financial necessity, arguing that the country simply cannot afford unrestricted welfare payments while encouraging families to have more children.

“We want to help British working families to have more children. But, right now, we just cannot afford to do so with welfare. So, it has to go,” he said.

This policy shift also contrasts with previous Reform discussions.

Nigel Farage had expressed support for ending the cap to boost population growth, and even Reform’s own education spokeswoman, Suella Braverman, had hinted at encouraging larger families.

Jenrick emphasized that while the intention was well-meaning, the reality of the country’s finances demands a different approach.

Tightening Disability Claims for Mental Health

Another cornerstone of Jenrick’s proposals focuses on Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claims for mental health.

Currently, some claimants can receive payments for conditions like mild anxiety or depression without a formal clinical diagnosis.

Reform plans to require a verified diagnosis from a healthcare professional before payments are approved.

Jenrick highlighted that those with mild mental health conditions would be encouraged to work rather than rely on cash support, framing this as a step toward restoring fairness and sustainability to the system.

The costs of Britain’s main sickness benefits are predicted to rise sharply, with forecasts suggesting an almost £20 billion increase annually if reforms are not enacted.

Britons Only and Motability Reforms

In a further tightening of eligibility, Jenrick proposed restricting benefits solely to British nationals.

He also pledged to clamp down on abuses of the Motability scheme, which allows PIP recipients to use funds to purchase vehicles that support their ability to work.

These moves form part of a broader narrative from Reform that focuses on workers over welfare, branding the party as “alarm clock Britain.”

Jenrick described the current system as “broken,” calling it both an economic and moral disaster.

Numbers Behind the Crisis

The urgency of Jenrick’s proposals is underlined by the scale of the benefits system.

As of December 2025, there were 8.34 million universal credit claimants in Britain, nearly a million more than the previous year.

Notably, most of this increase came from claimants moving from legacy benefits rather than new claims.

Meanwhile, the cost of PIP alone is projected to rise from £25.9 billion to £44.9 billion by 2030 — an increase that would require an extra 2p on income tax rates to cover.

Previous efforts to curb PIP growth under Labour, including by Sir Keir Starmer, were abandoned due to backbench resistance.

Jenrick warned that without action, these trends could bankrupt the system.

What’s next?

If Reform wins the next election, we can expect a full-scale review of welfare policies, including legislation to restore the two-child cap and tighten disability claim rules.

The party also aims to introduce independent superforecasters to provide more accurate economic predictions and to maintain oversight of the Bank of England while reforming its role.

Critics will likely challenge the proposed “Britons only” rule and the exclusion of those with mild mental health conditions, arguing that these changes could hurt vulnerable families.

The debate over welfare reform is expected to dominate the UK’s political landscape in the lead-up to the next general election.

Summary

Robert Jenrick and the Reform Party are positioning themselves as champions of fiscal responsibility, promising to overhaul Britain’s benefits system.

Key measures include restoring the two-child benefit cap, requiring verified clinical diagnoses for PIP mental health claims, restricting benefits to British nationals, and reforming the Motability scheme.

With universal credit numbers rising and sickness benefit costs set to soar, Reform is framing these changes as necessary to prevent financial collapse while emphasizing a shift toward work and accountability.