Benefits Cap Pilots Claim DWP Cash Is Not Enough

The first four councils to test the government’s new benefit cap have warned they have not received enough money to implement the changes.  Enfield, Croydon, Haringey and Bromley councils became the first local authorities to implement the £26,000-a-year benefit cap. The councils must identify who is eligible for the cap and administer the new system.  The DWP provided £2 million to help the four councils cover implementation costs, such as extra staff, administration, IT work and meeting any shortfall in housing benefit in the short term. But the four councils have each said the money is not enough to cover their costs - in one case, less than half the amount needed. Haringey Council, which received £115,350 from the DWP, has calculated that its costs will be £220,000 more.  Read more on Inside Housing.