Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of claimants affected by the recent reduction in the benefit cap in (a) East Ham constituency and (b) the London Borough of Newham are in receipt of (i) jobseeker's allowance, (ii) employment and support allowance, (iii) income support, (iv) housing benefit and (v) another benefit.

The information is provided in the table below.

Estimated breakdown of households affected by the lower cap levels by benefit receipt, 2016/17

These estimates focus on the benefit cap continuing to be applied under Housing Benefit and therefore all households affected will be in receipt of Housing Benefit. The benefit cap will increasingly be applied under Universal Credit as it gradually rolls out. Universal Credit will replace Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-based Employment and Support Allowance and Housing Benefit, along with Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit.

Notes:

1. Figures may not sum due to rounding.
2. Estimates assume no behavioural responses - any behavioural responses to the lower cap, such as claimants moving into employment, would cause the number of households affected to reduce and may change the proportional split.
3. The methodology used to estimate the households affected by the cap is consistent with that described in the latest impact assessment published here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/welfare-reform-and-work-act-impact-assessment-for-the-benefit-cap