Hundreds of large families rack up £70,000 a year in housing benefits despite cap
HUNDREDS of families with large numbers of children are raking in up to £70,000 a year in housing benefit despite a cap.
622 families with nine or more children claim an annual total of £6million
There are 622 families with nine or more children claiming an annual total of £6million, figures from the Department of Work and Pensions show.
The number claiming the biggest payouts has increased over the last year – when officials said they would be shrinking. There are now 698 households being paid more than £500 a week – the level that the Government set as its upper limit.
A year ago the figure stood at 574. Among the latest total are six households that get more than £1,400 a week, which means the taxpayer is subsidising them by around £73,000 a year.
Another six households get between £1,000 and £1,100 a week meaning they are getting handouts of around £52,000 each year, according to a Freedom of Information request.
Jonathan Isaby, of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “This looks like an utter shambles.”
When the Coalition came to power it pledged to shrink the bill but it has continued to rise to £24billion a year.
The DWP said: “In real terms, housing benefit has fallen for the first time in a decade.”
Vulnerable people in temporary accommodation are exempt from the cap.