The Government must act on today’s figures and scrap the benefit cap.
Today’s announcement that there has been an astonishing 93% rise in households hit by the benefit cap must serve as a wakeup call.
The Government’s claim that people can work their way out of it at a time when there are eight job seekers for every vacancy shows how out of touch they are with the reality of people’s lives.
Back in June I wrote to the Minister warning that this situation was brewing.
I urged her to remove the cap to allow households to actually receive the payment increases introduced in response to Covid-19.
Ending the benefit cap would put much needed cash into the pockets of Britain’s poorest families, helping them through this crisis.
Over 50 campaign groups and the Bishop of Durham agree.
The overwhelming majority of households that have lost an average of £248 a month are ones with children. Two thirds of them being single parent households.
This is a scandal.
It might try, but this Government cannot deny the clear evidence.
Child poverty is on the rise. And removing benefits during a pandemic only adds to the burden, leaving many parents struggling to afford the basics.
The Government has been too slow to listen and learn throughout this pandemic. But we urge them to reflect on today’s figures.
They confirm what has been clear from the start - that the benefit cap is only serving to push people further into poverty.
It is time to scrap the cap.
