100 families hit by benefits cap

AROUND 100 Oldham households will be affected by the Government benefits cap now being introduced across the country.

The cap limits working-age families to a maximum benefit of £500 a week — the average wage - to restore fairness to the welfare state. The amount lost by local families ranges from £50 to over £100 a week.

The same number of households will be affected in Tameside and Rochdale.

In Manchester, 500 families claiming over the capping limit will have their benefits cut, with 100 of them losing over £100 a week.

The cap will apply to combined income from the main out-of-work benefits — jobseeker’s allowance, income support and employment support allowance — and other allowances such as housing benefit, child benefit and child tax credit.

It will not affect a household if a member is entitled to working tax credit, and those receiving disability living allowance and war widow’s or widower’s pension will also be exempt.