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Original poster

Why is the benefit cap still in place?

250 replies

Mrsbeanz · 05/02/2021 19:53

Why haven't the government scrapped the benefit cap as it was introduced to get people into work. Why at a time when people are losing jobs and finding it hard to find work, and many being told they shouldn't go to work should people still be capped? It just forces people into.poverty and homelessness. Especially since rents are high and a housing crisis

OP posts:
Dallerup · 05/02/2021 22:01

@JellyBabiesFan Oh sod right off! Uproot children? Change schools? Leave a secure job? Find a new job? Leave your home? Find a new home when you possibly don't have the money for an upfront deposit? And no, not everyone has savings because some people are on benefits which are designed to literally cover the absolute bare minimum at nest in most cases and leave no bloody room for saving!

Waxonwaxoff0 · 05/02/2021 22:01

@JellyBabiesFan

Because people should be encouraged to work rather than not work.

The cap is more than enough money. If your rent is too high then move.

What a stupid comment. So poor people should only be allowed to live in certain areas of the country?
inquietant · 05/02/2021 22:02

@user1465423698

The point of it was to punish people. It was never about "getting people into work" . It was always about impoverishing people and forcing them from their homes.

That's why it's still here. Because they still want to punish people for being poor, unemployed or disabled.

This x 1000

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Benefits
inquietant · 05/02/2021 22:03

@JellyBabiesFan

Because people should be encouraged to work rather than not work.

The cap is more than enough money. If your rent is too high then move.

Hmm Today's no grasp of reality award goes to you!
Dallerup · 05/02/2021 22:04

@JellyBabiesFan sorry, I forgot to include leaving support systems. Friends and family who not only provide mental and emotional support which we all need but quite often help out with childcare. Friends and family helping out with childcare is essential for some people on low incomes who are working nights/shifts and so cannot use 'traditional' childcare.

Why can't some people drag their heads out of their arses and accept that not everyone has the exact same circumstances and opportunities??

Hwory · 05/02/2021 22:05

And millions are spent on DHP to top up Ben cap awards.

Dallerup · 05/02/2021 22:09

@Hwory Local authorities have a set budget for DHP payments. Not everyone who needs it gets it and once they've run out of money that's it, it's gone. They can't just borrow a few hundred from another department budget so someone can pay their rent every month

InglouriousBasterd · 05/02/2021 22:10

@JellyBabiesFan

Because people should be encouraged to work rather than not work.

The cap is more than enough money. If your rent is too high then move.

This sort of comment always amuses me as it’s so clear there is no real world experience behind it. Any idea how difficult it is to get a landlord to rent to you if you receive any benefits? Move away from support systems as a single parent, including family childcare? Move children from schools they are happy and settled in? Find a new job?

The vast majority of people in receipt of benefits are in work.

ConsuelaHammock · 05/02/2021 22:19

Does the benefit cap apply if you are in work? I don’t disagree with a benefit cap in theory but children shouldn’t be the ones to suffer. How do we as a society encourage people to postpone having children until they are financially stable ?

smoothchange · 05/02/2021 22:24

@Gilead

I’m fairly sure that attippingpoint isn’t setting her own rent, or are you suggesting they move somewhere smaller and cheaper? It’s not always an option.

I wasn't suggesting anything.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 05/02/2021 22:30

@ConsuelaHammock

Does the benefit cap apply if you are in work? I don’t disagree with a benefit cap in theory but children shouldn’t be the ones to suffer. How do we as a society encourage people to postpone having children until they are financially stable ?
What is financially stable though? Some people will never be able to earn more than minumum wage so they will always need benefit top ups. These workers are still essential to society, should they not be allowed to have children?

Not everyone goes to university and has a career where they can progress to higher earnings.

Dallerup · 05/02/2021 22:42

@ConsuelaHammock As a general rule if you're earning over £604 per month (I think that's for a couple or if you have children. The amount for single people is different) the benefit cap doesn't apply but if you go below that (furlough, sick pay, parental leave) you have a 9 month grace period to get back to that wage before it kicks in.

I'm so hoping they (at the very least) make an exception for furlough. It's massively unfair for people to lose 20% of their wage through no fault of their own and then have their benefits massively docked for the privilege. But to be honest the whole thing needs to be relooked at.

Wide · 05/02/2021 22:44

@jellybabiesfan

It's really not that simple to just move to a cheaper rental, moving with a lettings agency would require 1 months rent, the same amount for deposit plus fees and that's minimum, so that would obviously be more than one montha rent cost so there's a trap ans you have to stay put. Don't even get me started on the price of rent I wish they would bring in a law where onky a certain percentage is allowed to be charged on top of the actual monthly mortgage, god knows how people will be able to ever leave home eventually and yesss by working before someone says it but when rent is taking up a high percentage of your monthly salary it is ridiculous

Hwory · 05/02/2021 23:31

@Dallerup

I work in this area. In my council we have a budget but it's so high we wouldn't spend it all on applications that qualify. Between January and march we find people to spend the rest of it or it'll get sent back to the central government.

We also can overspend as we can access further funding from the homeless prevention fund.

People who apply in Feb/march who qualify won't be told sorry were spent up come back in April if you haven't been evicted.

Dallerup · 05/02/2021 23:37

@Hwory Sounds similar to where my DP works. They're actually asking people if they have rent arrears etc and offering DHP to get it spent. Unfortunately I'm in a different authority and ours is long gone and we're (not actually me, slightly different role) having to find reasons to decline applications. Thankfully there are other, even better funded, places that people are being signposted too for help. It just goes to show that it's complete lottery depending on where you live and some posters just don't have a clue when they say things like 'just move' or 'just get a better paid job' or 'use your savings' or 'get family to do 50 hours free childcare every week'

CayrolBaaaskin · 05/02/2021 23:44

I don’t disagree with the benefit cap in principle- it only applies to working age non disabled people who are not earning less than 600 pcm. In the days before, I knew quite a few relatives in London who were getting thousands of pounds a month on benefits. More than a full time teacher or nurse. How can that be fair?

Wyntersdiary · 05/02/2021 23:45

i understand. I get £80 a week and yet my council bill is £200 a month Hahaha ....

ConsuelaHammock · 05/02/2021 23:51

Wax - a good history of employment even if it is in a minimum wage job ? And probably no more than two children if there’s a chance they may need some support in the future .

Gilead · 06/02/2021 07:27

CayrolBaaaskin they must have had a fair few children to be in receipt of ‘thousands a month’.

Bathbea · 06/02/2021 07:36

I am a single parent with 3 children. Studying to eventually work for the NHS. My rent is £1400 per month. My children share a bedroom. I get £1434 per month universal credit because of the benefit cap.

Have you applied for everything you can? £5k bursary, £2k for having children, 85% of childcare costs, student loan...?

Scramblinghealingdreaming · 06/02/2021 07:39

But people in work who don't claim any benefits have to adapt to their circumstances. Moving when required, changing area to find work etc.

Why does this only apply to those in work. It's an unfair system.

And the biggest threat to all within the benefits system are those within the system that take the piss. Always has been, always will be.

So while holding the government to account, the piss takers need to be also. Until they are, there will never be a better system for those genuinely in need.

Beefcurtains79 · 06/02/2021 07:55

“ But people in work who don't claim any benefits have to adapt to their circumstances. Moving when required, changing area to find work etc.”

This. But no one cares about the working poor at all, particularly on mumsnet.

MeanMrMustardSeed · 06/02/2021 07:56

I never quite get the argument about benefits meaning ‘poor people’ can only live in certain areas. That’s true for everyone. I can’t afford to live in the best road / detached house / nicest village etc. Lots of working people can’t get a mortgage. We left London when we had children as we couldn’t afford to house them there.
Also, we have to (the government has to) get to the bottom of non resident parents not always financially supporting their children. All children have two biological parents, it’s a fact of life. Of course there are many horrible situations (death, imprisonment, abuse etc) which mean resident parents are financially supporting their children alone. But in the vast majority of cases the state / taxpayer is picking up the tab for absent / financially irresponsible parents. I think this needs to be addressed.

Sargass0 · 06/02/2021 08:13

@user1465423698

So disabled people should be left without enough money to heat their homes or pay their rent, because some other people feel jealous if the disabled people have enough money to live a worthwhile life?

What is not right is for people to be impoverished deliberately.

The cost of poverty, malnourishment, poor health, emergency housing, etc is far greater than just covering the cost of people's housing and living needs.

We can afford it. We choose not to. Because "why should they have something I don't" apparently.

Benefit cap doesn't apply to those who receiving disability benefits though
Attippingpoint · 06/02/2021 08:33

I’m a recent single mother, so my circumstances were different a year ago. £1400 is relatively cheap for the area, we need to be walking distance to school as no transport.

Unfortunately I’m still at the college stage of my journey. I’m holding out until September when I will get proper student financial support. In the mean time the FSM vouchers are paying for our shopping and Child benefit keep our electric switched on.

Don’t get me wrong I’m very grateful that we have the safety net of a benefit system. However, it feels very unfair that should we be in the NE for instance, I would have far more money left to pay for the basics.