Turn2us responds to benefit cap roll out
London (PRWEB UK) 5 August 2013 -- Alison Taylor, Director of Turn2us, responds to the cap:
“With the cap on benefits rolling out across Britain from 15 July, there will undoubtedly be many people worried about the impact this will have on their lives. As recently as April, a Turn2us survey found that a staggering 85% of people were concerned about the changes to the welfare benefit system.
“While a simplification of the benefits system on the whole is a welcome move, the results from the cap being trialled in four London boroughs make for worrying reading. Four out of five people affected were lone parents and only 58 of the over 2,000 households did not have dependent children living with them. With the Government estimating that the benefits cap will impact 40,000 households, we’re concerned that the most vulnerable are going to be hit even harder.
“In addition, the focus on a cap does not solve the main issues which lead to a growing benefit bill, notably a lack of affordable housing, the high costs of housing in the south of the country and work that does not pay enough. With the results from the trials hitting lone parents, those in high rent areas and large families hard, the cap may only exacerbate problems.
“We urge anyone that is concerned about the cap and how it may affect them to carry out a benefits check on our website. Using our Benefits Calculator we can help people find out if they are to be affected or if someone in their household could receive benefits which would make them exempt. We also have regularly updated information on how the cap works and who will be affected.
“As the Benefits Cap makes its way across the country we want to be clear that there is help out there. Turn2us has the knowledge and tools for those in financial need to get help with benefits searches, to maximise their income and access the support to make sense of these changes.”
To arrange an interview, or for more information, please contact Ben Ashmore, Communications Manager at Turn2Us, using the contact details above.
About Turn2us
Turn2us helps people in financial need gain access to welfare benefits, charitable grants and other financial help – online, by phone and face-to-face through our partner organisations.
The Turn2us website, http://www.turn2us.org.uk, is designed to help people access the money available to them – through welfare benefits, charitable grants and other help.
The website has a number of tools to make the process simpler, including a Benefits Calculator, Grants Search database and a ‘find a benefits adviser’ tool to help locate someone to speak to.
Turn2us works in partnership with organisations across the UK, including AdviceUK, Association of Charitable Organisations, Citizens Advice, Child Poverty Action Group, Home-Start UK and Money Advice Trust to develop our services and reach the many millions of people that need our help.
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News reference: Benefits cap leads to more people in work, says government, BBC, 15/7 - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-23306092
Ben Ashmore, Turn2Us, http://www.turn2us.org.uk, 0208 834 9256, [email protected]
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