THE TORIES’ benefit cap is disproportionately penalising single-parent families, statistics published today reveal.

Figures released by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show that 60,000 households had their housing benefit capped as of February, 72 per cent of which are single-parent families.

Of those 44,000 single-parent families subject to the cap, 77 per cent have at least one child under the age of five while 33 per cent have a child under the age of two.

A total of 56,000 capped households — 93 per cent of all those subject to the cap — have at least one child, while 55,000 are claiming child tax credits.

The benefit cap, which restricts the total annual amount households can receive in benefits to £20,000, or £23,000 in London, is currently subject to a legal challenge which argues that the cap unlawfully discriminates against lone parents with children under the age of two.

DWP figures also show that 78 per cent of all households capped as of February 2018 lost out because of the introduction of the lower rate level, down from £26,000 from November 2016.

The statistics reveal that 8,200 households were capped for the first time between December 2017 and February 2018, 1,000 more households subject to the cap than the previous quarter.

Only 4,700 households had their universal credit capped up to February 2018, but the DWP admits that the figure is increasing and will continue to do so as UC is rolled out nationally.

Shadow work and pensions secretary Margaret Greenwood condemned the “stark” figures, saying: “A thousand more households had their housing benefits capped for the first time last quarter and single parents with at least one young child under the age of five were by far the biggest single group affected.
 
“Many single parents on low income desperately want to work, but they face real challenges in finding affordable childcare and work that is flexible.
 
“Labour would make tackling child poverty the priority. It should be through a living wage of £10 an hour, free childcare for all children under the age of five and a social security system that supports parents rather than penalises them.”