Thousands of children in Herefordshire are in families affected by a limit on child allowance benefits, estimates suggest.

The two-child limit restricts child allowances in universal credit and tax credits, worth £2,935 per year, to the first two children in a family unless the children were born before April 6, 2017 when the policy came into force.

Department for Work and Pensions figures show that 850 households with three or more children in Herefordshire were receiving Universal Credit in April, and 770 received Child Tax Credits, 1,620 in total.

The DWP figures reveal that the policy affects 360,000 families nationwide, 59 per cent of which are working households.

CPAG estimates that around one in 14 children in Herefordshire are impacted by the cut-off, which is below the average across the UK, of one in 12.

The DWP said over 8 million households on benefits will receive the first instalment of the £650 Cost of Living payment, with millions getting at least £1,200 in extra support.

A spokesman said: “This policy means families on benefits are asked to make the same financial decisions as families supporting themselves solely through work, including considering our comprehensive childcare offer for working parents and child benefit for all children.”