Laura Sharman 07 November 2016

Benefit cap expected to affect 88,000 households

Local authorities are expected to play a key role in mitigating the impact on the new benefit cap, which comes into force from today.

The new cap will limit how much money a working age household can receive in benefits to £20,000 a year and £23,000 in London.

Although the last benefit cap in 2013 affected 20,000 households, research suggests this new cap will affect four times as many households with 88,000 seeing a reduction in benefits.

The Institute of Fiscal Studies said the cap will result in affected families seeing cash drops in benefit income between one housing benefit payment and the next.

It also said there was no evidence the majority of those affected would move into work, move house or claim disability benefit instead. It predicts that local authorities will end up relieving the strain on families through Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs).

The briefing stated: ‘In 2015–16, £25m of DHPs were allocated specifically to help tenants affected by the benefit cap (offsetting almost 40% of the direct £65m saving from the cap). About 40% of those affected by the benefits cap so far have successfully applied for DHPs.

‘These DHPs look likely to play a key role in mitigating the impact of the cuts on some of the families affected - whilst rendering the net fiscal savings from the cap all the more trivial.’

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Senior Customer Services Adviser (Housing Repairs

Mansfield District Council
£28,598 - £33,699 per annum
Mansfield is a town of towns at the centre of things in Nottinghamshire - a place of many strong connections Mansfield, Nottinghamshire
Recuriter: Mansfield District Council

No Wrong Door Deputy Manager

North Yorkshire Council
From £47,181 up to £51,356 per annum pro rata
We’re looking for a passionate, driven, and dynamic professional to join our management team within our innovative No Wrong Door (NWD) service. Scarborough, North Yorkshire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council

Senior Resource Centre Worker

North Yorkshire Council
£34,434 - £38,220 per annum pro rata
You will work closely with families and other professionals to ensure that you have sound knowledge of the children you are caring for Morton on Swale, Northallerton
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council

Social Worker

North Yorkshire Council
£38,220 - £42,839 per annum, pro rata
Our Family Assessment and Support Teams you will work with a range of children and their families, carers and networks. Selby, North Yorkshire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council

Adults Social Worker - Mid Essex

Essex County Council
£37185 - £50081 per annum
Register your interest here to be notified of upcoming Social Worker opportunities within Essex County Council's Adult Social Care services in Mid Es England, Essex, Chelmsford
Recuriter: Essex County Council
Linkedin Banner