Benefit Cap Alert Briefing

Shelter analysis of the latest government statistics on the benefit cap, which show that 188,000 households were affected as of May 2021.

The number capped has increased hugely over the pandemic, growing by 141% since February 2020. 83% of those capped are families with children, and 6 in 10 (62%) are lone parents.

Families affected by the cap face impossible choices between keeping up with the rent and paying for bills and other essentials. Lone parents in particular struggle to work more to escape the cap. The cap is arbitrary and unfair and must be scrapped.