DWP urged to 'abolish' £14,753 rule affecting 123,000 households

DWP urged to 'abolish' £14,753 rule affecting 123,000 households
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There is a call to ABOLISH a Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) rule after the latest figures were released. There is a call for the abolition of the UK benefit cap as latest figures are released showing 123,000 households are affected.

It includes 302,000 children. “If the government is serious about tackling child poverty, it must take immediate action. The benefit cap must be scrapped so families can move on from damaging temporary accommodation into a settled home,” said Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter.

The cap puts a limit on the amount of benefit income households can receive if they are jobless or earning low amounts. Sophie Francis-Cansfield, the head of policy at Women’s Aid, said: "The sad reality is the cost of living crisis, combined with a private rental crisis and inadequate state support, is forcing many survivors to make the impossible choice between staying with an abuser and affording to live or leaving and facing financial hardship and homelessness.”

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She added: “We must see an end to the benefit cap, so that no woman has to make the impossible decision between living in safety and affording to live.” A government spokesperson said in a statement: “This is another example of the dire inheritance this government faces – too many people are trapped on benefits.

"We are taking bold action to support people into work through reforming jobcentres and giving local areas the power they need to tackle economic inactivity, which will boost their finances and reduce the likelihood of being impacted by the cap.”

Current benefit cap limits, which were last increased in April 2023, are £22,020 (£14,753 for single adults with no children) and £25,323 (£16,967 for single adults with no children) in Greater London, regardless of household need, according to DWP regulations and rules.