Welfare Bill Capping Benefits Out

The Welfare Uprating Bill - legislation to cap increases in benefits - is due to be introduced to the House of Commons today (20 December), amid conflicting media reports about the popularity of the plan.  The bill will cap the rate at which most working age benefits will rise in order to save £3.7 billion. Increases in local housing allowance rates, which are used to calculate housing benefit for private renters, will be capped at 1 per cent for two years from April 2014, effectively cutting benefit in real terms.  Labour has indicated it is likely to oppose the bill. Chancellor George Osborne announced the plans in the autumn statement earlier this month.  Read more on Inside Housing.