Number of families hit by benefit cap in Bolton has soared

The number of households receiving Universal Credit in Bolton hit by the Government's benefit cap has soared, new figures show. It comes as a joint briefing from Shelter, Women's Aid and the Child Poverty Action Group called for the cap to be abolished, saying it disproportionately affects children and survivors of domestic abuse, and is directly contributing to making families homeless. Department for Work and Pensions figures show 560 households receiving Universal Credit in Bolton had their income cut off by the policy in May.

This was a 48 per cent increase since February, when 378 households had their income restricted. The cap was last raised in April 2023, despite most benefits rising by 6.7 per cent this April.

It currently stands at £22,020 for families with children across Britain, or £25,323 for those in London. Anyone due to receive more than thi s amount in benefits will have their income cut off. Nationally, 118,000 households on Universal Credit had their income capped this quarter, an increase of 61 per cent.

Most of these households were families with children. Matt Downie, chief executive of homelessness charity Crisis, called the increase "staggering". READ MORE: REVEALED: How long Bolton’s vulnerable wait for housing benefits Martin Lewis highlights benefit for grandparents that can thousands to pensions DWP warning claimants they could lose their benefits "Behind these figures are struggling parents who will be spending anxious nights worrying about h.