Benefit cap 'would push 6,000 children into poverty'
More than 12,000 children in the South West will be hit by the Government's proposed benefit cap, with some 6,000 being pushed into poverty.
The measure, the flagship of the coalition's welfare reforms, would see benefits limited to £26,000-a-year.
However, the plans were defeated in the House of Lords last week with peers backing a bishop's amendment that child benefit should not be included in the figure.
Figures from the Government's own impact assessment show how the cap would affect households in the region.
Nationally, 220,000 children would be worse off. Figures from the Department for Communities and Local Government show more than 80,000 children could be made homeless as a result of the policy.
The Children's Society is among those opposing the change which would see some families will lose, on average, £93 per week, with some households losing up to £150 a week.
It has been backed by the Bishop of Truro, the Right Revered Tim Thornton, who has urged the region's MPs to do the same.
He said: "I see the impact of government policy every day as it affects congregations and communities. The Lords have stood up to the government and made sure child benefit is excluded when calculating the benefit cap.
"It is vital that MPs do the same when the Bill returns to the House of Commons. If they don't, I fear greater hardship is in store for thousands of children."
Child benefit is paid to both non-working and working families, to support the costs of raising their children.
Households with a single higher rate taxpayer are set to lose the payment, although those with two incomes slightly below that £40,000 threshold will continue to receive it.
Enver Solomon, policy director at the Children's Society, said: "If the intention of the benefit cap is to promote fairness, it is a grave injustice that a small family with a household income of £80,000 a year receive it, yet a large family with a benefit income of £26,000 are excluded.
"It's not fair to punish children for the work circumstances of their parents. The effects on their lives could be devastating, blighting their futures."
Ministers appear determined to force through the policy believing there is strong public support to curb the benefits dependency culture and "make work pay".
Work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith attacked the bishops, accusing them of ignoring the concerns of ordinary families who try to "do the right thing".
He said: "The question I'd ask these bishops is, over all these years, why have they sat back and watched people being placed in houses they cannot afford? It's not a kindness."
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by FrankEinstein
Thursday, February 02 2012, 6:58AM
“You know what these Bishops are like on fiscal policy, apparently jesus could provide benefits to the whole country with two loaves of bread and a bottle of water. Sounds like a Lib Dem.”
by BenDover169
Wednesday, February 01 2012, 10:30PM
“Not sure how they work out that people will be homeless, they are on benefits for gods sake (pun intended) that means they are already having the mortgage/rent paid for, no council tax to pay, so paying next to nothing to live there, hardly the financial devastation that would cause them to to suddenly become 'homeless'. If they did become homeless perhaps the Bish will let them live with them in that very big house/church he has. Plenty of room and as much bread and water as you could wish for.”
by clevedonrob
Wednesday, February 01 2012, 10:05PM
“Given all of the comments why don't 'This is South Devon' put them before the Rt Rev. and ask whether he'd like to update his quotes given the common opinion of the majority - and by majority I mean every single person..”
by Bangtastic
Wednesday, February 01 2012, 9:57PM
“They haven't gone far enough it should be capped at around £16,000, that would be a more realistic figure. Which would equate to around £20,000 which is still more than the average squaddie or junior nurse earn. Why should someone on benefits be 'given' more than these people.”
by FrankEinstein
Wednesday, February 01 2012, 9:22PM
“It's not real poverty. We have a welfare state, real poverty doesn't exist in this country. It just means those who's parents prefer to sit on their backsides and spend all their welfare on booze and drugs will find it hard to do that and get their kids an extra play station for christmas. Who listens to these people anyway, apart from the BBC.”
by nick113
Wednesday, February 01 2012, 9:10PM
“Interesting that none of the nine people posting support the Bishop. It shows how out of touch these blokes in frocks are.”
by 2jaibee
Wednesday, February 01 2012, 8:14PM
“The BBC website has a great article today Family life on Benefits showing exactly how our money is being spent. http://tinyurl.com/7e5ll35 Booze, fags, Sky TV, mobile phones and a night out at the pub each week. As many of the livid commentators on that site observe the £83 pound per week they will lose is easily found in their 'budget'.
£26,000 is ample if managed properly. If people continue to fritter money on non-necessities then perhaps it is time we bit the bullet and started issuing food stamps.”
by 2ladybugs
Wednesday, February 01 2012, 8:07PM
“This is just so unfair to all those hard working people who struggle to earn anywhere near this figure and yet still have to manage. They are in effect subsidising the people who will be entitled to the £26k for doing nothing. Very wrong and very demoralising to those working and barely managing.”
by maddogwoman
Wednesday, February 01 2012, 7:36PM
“As long as children have food in their bellies, warm clothes, shoes, a loving homelife - they'll thrive. Families can provide all this on less than £26,000 a year if they get their priorities right. What is the definition of poverty - not having the latest gadgets ? I know the cost of living are going up, but you can cut back on many non essentials.”
by accom
Wednesday, February 01 2012, 2:28PM
“I'd love to be earning that much money in the first place. My family survive fine with much less than that, we have a decent house and possessions and go on holiday once a year. Anyone earning that much doesn't need benefits, or if they do, they have more money than sense and need to take lessons in money management, it's easy to live on that amount of money and not struggle.”