Benefit Cap Struggling To Meet Its Aims

The government’s benefit cap will struggle to deliver its objectives of saving taxpayers’ money and encouraging people into work, according to the first major study on the cap’s implementation. The conclusions follow research led by the CIH into the initial impact of the cap in Haringey – one of four London boroughs chosen by the government to implement the cap early. Just 10 per cent of households affected in Haringey were able to find work to avoid seeing their benefits cut.  Research shows that 747 households in the borough saw their benefits cut with the amount lost ranging from 15p to £374.50 per week – with 51 per cent of affected claimants losing £50-£199 each week.  Around 2,300 children were affected by the cap, with larger families experiencing the highest loss. Download a copy of the report from the CIH website.