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Two families given housing benefits worth £366,000
Lawrence Conway05.10.09
Two London families have received housing benefit worth £366,000, figures reveal today.
One family in Camden has received more than £189,000 since August 2001. They are now in a five-bedroom house that costs £1,515 a week.
But local estate agents said similar properties were available at less than half the cost. A home with six double bedrooms in the centre of Camden is on the market for £800 a week, while a nearby five-bedroom flat is available for £590 a week. The claimants have seven children and have lived at several properties in the period.
Another family in Brent are paid £2,827 a week, which has added up to £177,497, claimed since January 2004.
Several other London boroughs have paid out sums of more than £100,000. A claimant in Westminster has been paid £76,000 in the last 12 months. Critics say the figures show the housing benefits system, which costs £15billion a year, is in need of reform.
Claimants are entitled to the benefit if their income is so low the family would not otherwise be able to stay together in their home area.
Susie Squire, campaign manager at the Taxpayers' Alliance, said the figures were staggering: "They show an alarming amount of taxpayers' money is being haemorrhaged each year."
A Department for Work and Pensions spokeswoman said: "We capped the Local Housing Allowance in April because it was unacceptable that a small number of people received exceptionally high levels of benefits. Our welfare reforms will ensure that it isn't an option to sit at home and claim benefits."
A spokeswoman for Camden council said: "Housing benefit claims are carefully examined and are awarded to people in greatest need and can often be the only way a large family in need can stay together."
Reader views (9)
Good use of our money!!!!!!!!
- Very Very Angry At Paying Tax For Mp'S Expeses, Home Counties
The Department for Work and Pensions spokeswomble spouted: "it isn't an option to sit at home and claim benefits".
Obviously, it is a perfectly good option.
- Reuben Camara, Morecambe Compound, EUSSR
People, who recieves Housing Benefit, also receive Child tax credit, Child benefit, Income support, etc. Take for a example a single mother, who has never worked with one new born child. Two of them are entitled to Housing benefit of 500pw (Central London) Child tax credit and Child benefit of 100pw, Income Support of £65pw and Council Tax benefit of 100pm. If you add all this up ... you will understand why so many people claim benefits and they will try their best to stay on benefits forever. Benefit claimants are better off then those who are working. Sometimes I question myself why I am working ( especially when you work as a Housing Benefit Officer with salary of 18k) and paying taxes.
- Oly, London
This nonsense should be investigated in the council offices. Does anyone think before throwing our money at families from abroad.
- Michael, London, UK
The maximum total benefit payment should be capped at the equivalent of being employed full time on the minimum wage.
If people in that position can get by, there is no reason why anyone else can't do the same.
There should never be a situation where is is more lucrative to sponge off the taxpayer than is is to get off your backside and go to work.
Immigrants who have never contributed to the system should get nothing other than a plane ticket home.
Genuine asylum seekers should be held in secure accommodation until asylum is granted, and then they should be entitled to no more than anyone else. Failed asylum seekers should be immediately deported.
- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster
So £1515 a week or £6565 per month. Lets say all their other benefits such as free dental, council tax, school meals, clothing, heating, etc. etc. all adds up to £7500 a month, and I'm being conservative here. That's £90k a year AFTER tax or over £150k before.
It's madness, why would they ever get a job? Can my wife and I pack our jobs in and get some of this?
- Craig, London
Let me guess, they are asylum seekers looking for a better life in the uk.
- Mr S.Port, London
And what nationality are these claimants? Tell me they are not foriegn and didn't receive preferential treatment.
- Albert Swift, Aberdeen, Scotland
So glad my taxes are being used for the right purposes!
- Andy, London
