Government adviser voices fears over benefits cap

The plans are part of the Welfare Reform Bill, which has suffered a number of defeats in the House of Lords and has been slammed by children’s campaigners.

Harrison, who is chairman of welfare to work provider A4E and leads the government’s family intervention campaign Working Families Everywhere, told BBC Five Live yesterday (5 February) she was concerned about the cap’s effect on vulnerable families.

She said: "I’m worried about the extremely vulnerable families that will be caught out by a populist movement [to cap benefits]."

Families with disabled children were particularly at risk, Harrison added. "If those children were in the state being cared for they would cost millions," she added.

She accepted though that the benefits system needed to be reformed. "There might be a small percentage who always have to live on benefits due to some very extreme circumstances. [However] we have to do everything we can to support those other families to become working families, so that they can pass that ethos onto their children."

Dr Sam Royston, poverty and early years policy adviser at The Children's Society, backed Harrison's comments, saying the government policy was "poorly targeted".

"The government should reconsider its decision to overturn the proposals made by the House of Lords to exempt child benefit from the cap.  This would have ensured that all children born into the lowest income families are entitled to some level of financial support to help meet their most basic needs," he added.

A spokeswoman for Working Families Everywhere said that Harrison’s comments were her personal opinion. "They [ministers] wouldn’t be alarmed as she is completely independent. Her feeling is that work should pay but we cannot generalise about everyone’s circumstances."

A spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions added: "All households that include someone, including a child, receiving disability living allowance or constant attendance allowance will be exempt from the benefit cap, recognising the extra costs they face.

"Furthermore, carers who move into work and become eligible for working tax credit will be also be exempt from the cap. Most carers of working age want to retain a foothold in the labour market where possible and the universal credit will provide support for carers and improve their opportunities to maintain links with the world of work.

"Rather than hurting vulnerable people, the benefit cap – taken alongside our other welfare reforms including the Universal Credit – will lift 350,000 children and 550,000 adults out of poverty."

Last week the government fought back against House of Lords opposition to the bill, invoking a rarely used 340-year-old rule to ensure it completes its transition through parliament.