Benefit cap reduction: All you need to know ahead of Government changes

Your guide to the forthcoming shake-up of the welfare state. Will you be affected?

Dozens of working age households in receipt of housing benefits in Coventry and Warwickshire are facing cuts of an average of £65 per week as part of the latest government shake-up of the welfare state.

At the moment, the total amount single parents or couples with children can claim in benefits is £500 a week, or £350 per week for single people.

But, from this autumn, the cap on benefits for working age households is being reduced to £385 for single parents and couples with children and £258 for single people.

The cap will not affect those claiming Working Tax Credits or disability benefits, and experts say unemployed families with one child won’t notice any difference.

But according to The Children’s Society, larger families will take a hit, and the Department of Work and Pensions say support is available for these families.

A spokesman said: "The benefit cap is designed to support people into work, which is why those receiving Working Tax Credits are exempt.

"We have already seen households take action as part of our welfare reforms, moving into work, downsizing or moving house.”
Who does the cap apply to?

The cap applies to the total amount that households get from the following benefits:

• Bereavement Allowance
  
• Carer’s Allowance
  
• Child Benefit
  
• Child Tax Credit
  
• Employment and Support Allowance (except for the support group)
  
• Guardian’s Allowance
  
• Housing Benefit (except for certain vulnerable groups)
  
• Incapacity Benefit
  
• Income Support
  
• Jobseeker’s Allowance
  
• Maternity Allowance
  
• Severe Disablement Allowance
  
• Universal Credit
  
• Widowed Parent’s Allowance
  
• Widowed Mother’s Allowance
  
• Widow’s Pension

All other benefits are not included in the cap.

Yet again, those that can least afford it are hit by these changes.

There are some bizarre anomalies such as those in the Work Related Activities Group are affected if claiming Employment Support Allowance but are not affected if they are claiming Universal Credit!

What a clever way of indirectly hitting the single disabled who have carrers in, the same amount as careers get that don't live with a disabled person which will make it that they are careering for nothing which will force these disabled in to these disabled complex s as social services will then step in and force these disabled in to them .
Was it not Gordon Browns idea when he wanted all disabled in a disabled village like they are building here in areas with their careers with in the complex s to do away with ordinary careers which will free up housing to save them building homes. Does it not now prove they are all in it together.