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.
Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2016 6:34 pm
