200,000 hit by the benefit cap

Shelter has analysed the latest statistics released by the DWP on the numbers across Britain affected by the benefits cap to February 2021. 200,000 households across Britain now have their benefits capped, and numbers increased by 13% over the winter. January saw the biggest rise in a single month since April 2020 as those who began claiming Universal Credit at the start of the pandemic came to the end of their grace periods and were capped.

The benefits cap overwhelmingly affects families - 83% of capped households have children and 59% are lone parent families. Capped families now lose out an extra £8 a week compared to the start of the pandemic.

An urgent suspension of the benefit cap is required.