Work and Pensions written question – answered at on 2 September 2013.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many households in receipt of benefits are exempt from the benefits cap.
From the data available in June 2013, we estimate around 80,000 households are in receipt of benefits above the level of the cap but are exempt from the benefit cap.
Exemptions from the benefit cap include households with someone in receipt of the following benefits: disability living allowance (including a child in receipt), its replacement personal independence payment, attendance allowance, industrial injuries benefits (and equivalent payments made as part of a War Disablement Pension or the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme) or the support component of employment and support allowance. In addition, households with someone who is entitled to working tax credit are excluded. War widows and widowers are also exempt, reinforcing our commitment to those serving in or who have served in our armed forces.
There is also a grace period of 39 weeks during which time the cap will not apply to households where the claimant, or if applicable their partner, has worked for 50 weeks out of the 52 weeks preceding their last day of work.
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