Thousands seek help as benefit cap is reduced
Uncertainty over the reduction of the benefit cap is growing, evidenced by the thousands of people seeking answers online, says the charity Turn2us.
The new lower rate of Benefit Cap went into effect on Monday. Rolled out in stages across the UK, it will have lower rates for those living outside London.
The reduced cap will result in a significant income drop for over 100,000 UK households. For example, prior to the reduction your benefit cap was £500 per week if you are a couple or have children. Now the cap is £384.62 a week if you are a couple or have children and live outside London.
With so many households in the UK affected by the reduction of the cap, it is not surprising that Turn2us has had a surge in people seeking our help since Monday. Five times the typical number of people that use our online Benefits Calculator daily have used it to check if they will be affected by the reduction of the benefit cap.
This reflects the degree of uncertainty over the reduction of the cap and what benefits it applies to.
As inflation increases, the reduction of the cap is going to put pressure on many households that are already struggling financially. We urge anyone who may be affected by the benefit cap reduction to check their position as it is absolutely vital that they are aware of any impact on them as early as possible.
It is also important that those receiving benefits are aware of the benefits that are unaffected by the change such as Disability Living Allowance and Personal Independence Payment, so that they are not worrying unnecessarily.
Emphasising the importance of seeking help, Simon Hopkins, Chief Executive of Turn2us, said:
“These changes will take place in stages between now and early next year so it is important that people find out as soon as possible how they might be affected so that they can plan accordingly. Whilst there are a number of exemptions to the Benefits Cap, including the new inclusion of those receiving Carer’s Allowance, it is clear from the Department of Work and Pensions’ own figures that many will see a dramatic drop in income over the coming months. The onset of any significant change like this to the benefits system makes it doubly important that people understand what help is available to them.
We’d urge anyone who might be affected, or anyone who knows someone who’s affected, to check that they are getting all the help for which they qualify."
Anyone who is struggling financially or would like further information about the benefit cap reduction can visit our website, Turn2us.org.uk, for information about the cap, to use our Benefits Calculator to check if they will be affected, and for help with accessing grants.
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