WIRRAL benefit claimants are the latest people to have their payments capped as the new system is rolled out across the country.
The Government’s benefit cap limits the amount people can claim to £500 a week which means locally, around 200 claimants could have their money restricted to the earnings of an average household.
Jobcentre Plus managers say they have been in touch with all claimants since April and have been working with Wirral Council to make sure people are given enough information.
Nic Winter from Wirral Jobcentre Plus said: “We’ve been speaking to people over the last year to give them extra help to get into work.
"We are providing tailored support to help people move into work and the vast majority of people are really keen to get into work and are enthusiastic about the help they are getting.
"For those who haven’t been in contact yet, it’s important that they take up the offer of help in good time, so that they have time to think about the options available.
“Nationally Jobcentre Plus has been helping those claimants potentially affected with 12,400 already having moved into work and 32,300 having accepted employment support.”
The cap is set at £500 a week for couples with or without children, and lone parent households.
There is a lower cap at £350, which applies to single people.
The cap will apply to combined income from the main out-of-work benefits: Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, and Employment Support Allowance, - and other benefits such as Housing Benefit, Child Benefit and Child Tax Credit.
Households with someone in receipt of the Personal Independence Payment, Disability Living Allowance, the support component of Employment and Support Allowance and War Widow’s or Widower’s Pension are not affected.
Further support is available online at:
www.gov.uk/benefit-cap Benefit Cap Calculator 
