Benefit Cap

That the Parliament understands that the benefit cap is an overall limit on the amount of social security payments a household can receive; expresses disappointment that that recent improvements to the rates of some social security payments will not be received in full by some households due to the application of the benefit cap; understands that the independent Social Security Advisory Committee has brought these concerns to the attention of the Department for Work and Pensions, additionally pointing out that “claimants would normally have the option to move into paid work or to move home to avoid the impact of the benefit cap, but neither of these are realistic choices for many people at the current time”; believes that the provision of social security support should be based on need, not an arbitrary limit, and calls on the UK Government to permanently abolish the benefit cap.