ALMOST 500 children in Warrington are now at risk due to their family's benefits being capped by the Government, a charity has said.

Data from the Department for Work and Pensions highlighted that as of August, 143 families across Warrington were the subject of having their benefits capped.

Of these, 49 families had their benefits capped despite being told by the Government that they were not expected to be in employment.

Across the families hit by this decision were 470 children, and of the families experiencing benefits caps, 102 of them are single-parent families.

The cap in question limits the Universal Credit of households earning less than £658 per month - claimants can avoid the cap if they earn above this figure per month.

In Warrington South, the cap is limiting families by an average of £202 per month, whereas in Warrington North claimants are being restricted by an average of £162 per month.

Warrington North is seeing 26 families capped by the Government, despite not being expected to work, while 23 families in the south of the town are being capped without being expected to work, too.

All in all, 65 families in Warrington North are being capped, with 78 families in Warrington South also being restricted.

Warrington Guardian: A charity says nearly 500 children in Warrington are at risk of poverty due to the benefits capA charity says nearly 500 children in Warrington are at risk of poverty due to the benefits cap (Image: Child Poverty Action Group)

These figures were provided to the Child Poverty Action Group as a result of a Freedom of Information request.

The charity's chief executive Alison Garnham said the Universal Credit cap should be completely removed.

She said: "Our data demonstrates the fallacy that the benefit cap is a work incentive. How can it be when so many households caught by it are unable to take a job because of young children?

"It doesn’t incentivise work, it leaves children hungry.

"The Government’s position on the cap is incoherent. It must be removed before it harms more young lives."

A spokesperson for the DWP said there were now 200,000 fewer children in absolute poverty after housing costs compared to 2019/20, and that many of the most vulnerable were exempt from the benefit cap.

They added: “From next month the annual benefits cap for a single parent will be more than £25,000 in London and £22,000 elsewhere in Great Britain.

"It balances fairness for taxpayers with providing a vital safety net and is designed to provide a strong work incentive, by ensuring that work pays.

“Many of the most vulnerable claimants - including those who are in receipt of Universal Credit because of a disability or health condition that prevents them from working - are exempt from the cap."

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