Rob has welcomed new statistics that show 2,665 households in the South East have had their benefits capped in line with average earnings since April.
The new figures show that 19,000 households have had their benefits capped nationally. This is because of the Government’s Benefit Cap, which stops people getting more in benefits than the average family earns by going out to work.
The official figures show that without the Benefit Cap some people would be still getting the equivalent of almost a £70,000 salary each year.
Last month it was announced that the number of people claiming unemployment allowance in Reading East was down to 1,485 – the lowest level since 2008.
Rob said:
“Under thirteen years of Labour a something for nothing culture was allowed to develop. Thanks to the Conservative’s Benefit Cap, 2,665 households in South East are no longer able to claim more in benefits than the average family earns by going out to work. By doing this, and by lowering unemployment to its lowest level since 2008, the Government is getting people out of the welfare trap and into work. As the figures show, this Government’s plan to fix the welfare system is working for both Reading and the nation as a whole.
“Sadly the Labour Party voted against the Benefit Cap and opposed all the changes the Government has made to fix the welfare system. Under their plans some families would still be able to get the equivalent of nearly a £70,000 salary in benefits. It’s just the same old Labour Party who still want unlimited benefits and a something for nothing culture. It’s no wonder Ed Miliband’s Labour Party have become known as the Welfare Party.”