Benefit Cap: Child and Family Well-being Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateLord Bishop of Portsmouth
Main Page: Lord Bishop of Portsmouth (Bishops - Bishops)Department Debates - View all Lord Bishop of Portsmouth's debates with the Department for Work and Pensions
(6 years, 3 months ago)
Lords ChamberMy Lords, we welcomed recent external research on the benefit cap, working with local authorities. We are finding that there is a positive employment impact from the lower benefit cap, even at such an early stage in a child’s life. This supports our evidence that the cap is increasing work incentives for previously workless households.
My Lords, welfare reform was predicated on the principal that work should pay, but that principal is being undermined, not least by the two-child limit. In future, a family with three or more children seeking to avoid the cap by moving into work will find themselves subject to the two-child limit instead. They could end up losing out by going to work. What assessment have the Government made of the impact of this perverse incentive?