Labour has urged the Government to use the brief extension of the
evictions ban to scrap the benefit cap, which is pushing
thousands of families into rent arrears and debt.
Shadow Minister for Employment Seema Malhotra has written to the
Government calling for urgent clarification on the number of
households caught by the benefit cap who are at risk of eviction
once the latest one-month extension to the ban comes to an end.
While the brief reprieve will be a last-minute relief to many
families, Labour is warning it is only postponing the inevitable
without scrapping the benefit cap.
There has been a shocking 93 per cent rise in households hit by
the benefit cap from February to May this year. More households
are now caught by the cap than ever before, losing £248 a month
on average. The overwhelming majority of these households are
home to children, with two thirds of being single parent
households.
As well as calling for urgent clarification on the number of
households hit by the benefit cap who are at risk of eviction,
Malhotra’s letter demands Ministers set out their plans to
address the issue and scrap the benefit cap.
, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Employment, said:
“Labour has repeatedly called on the Government to scrap the
benefit cap and extend the ban on evictions to avoid a wave of
homelessness. This policy pushes families and children into
poverty.
“With the extension of the ban on evictions the Government must
scrap the benefit cap to prevent further rent arrears and
evictions at a time when families need support the most.”
Ends
Notes to Editors
Full text of letter
Re: Increased risk of evictions for families subject to the
Benefit Cap
I am writing to you to express my concern about the impact
the benefit cap is having on rent arrears and the likely
increased risk of eviction for families subject to the
cap.
While the Government’s U-turn to
extend the ban on evictions by a month is welcome, the evictions
crisis is only being postponed. Rent arrears will grow further
unless the extension is used effectively to scrap the benefit
cap. The Work and Pensions Committee last year cautioned that
many affected by the cap faced an “intolerable” financial
position, with households falling into rent arrears and
consequently losing their homes. Evidence submitted to the
Committee from Plymouth Community Homes found that 55% of tenants
affected by the cap fell into rent arrears.
Earlier in August, official figures showed that there had
been an astonishing 93% rise in households hit by the benefit cap
from February to May this year. More households are now
caught by the cap than ever before. The overwhelming
majority of households that have lost an average of £248 a month
through the cap are those with children. Households with children
form 86% of those currently capped, two thirds of them being
single parent households.
The benefit cap has prevented a large number of families
from benefiting from the restoration of the Local Housing
Allowance to the 30th
percentile and the temporary uplift of Universal
Credit.
I would be grateful if you could provide me with details
regarding your Department’s assessment of the number of
households caught by the benefit cap that have fallen into rent
arrears and who are at risk of eviction, as well as what steps
you are taking to address this issue.
Labour has repeatedly called on the Government to scrap the
benefit cap and extend the ban on evictions to avoid a wave of
homelessness. This is a policy that is pushing families and
children into poverty. With the extension of the ban on
evictions, I hope you will use this time to reconsider your
policy and scrap the benefit cap to prevent
further rent arrears and evictions at a time when families need
support the most.
I look forward to your response.
Yours sincerely,
Member of Parliament for Feltham and
Heston
