 |
answer text |
<p>I am replying to both questions as assessments of the effect of the benefit cap
are the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.</p><p> </p><p>
</p><p>The new, lower, tiered benefit cap was introduced from 7 November 2016. The
change reduces the total amount a working-age household can receive in benefits to
£20,000 for couples and lone parents (£13,400 for single adults with no children)
in Great Britain outside Greater London. Within Greater London the level is £23,000
for couples and lone parents (£15,410 for single adults with no children).</p><p>Evidence
from the 2014 evaluation of the cap showed very little, if any, impact on homelessness
as a direct result of the cap. In the cases of a small numbers of capped households
who had been evicted, the Local Authorities noted that they had other reasons for
rent arrears and they also failed to engage with relevant services, they were considered
intentionally homeless.</p><p> </p><p>The lower cap is still the equivalent of gross
family earnings of £25k, and £29k in London. There are a number of exemptions, for
example, for people receiving disability payments or people who work and qualify for
Working Tax Credits. Discretionary Housing Payments can be made by local authorities
to help people adjust to the benefit cap and those payments can be made to prevent
people becoming homeless.</p><p> </p><p>To help Local Authorities protect the most
vulnerable and to support households adjusting to the reforms, the Government has
provided around £900 million funding for the Discretionary Housing Payments scheme
since 2011.</p>
|
|
