Families on Benefits Are Receiving More Than the Average Salary
It has been revealed that 140,000 families are being paid more in benefits than the average take-home pay.
These households are receiving £20,000 every year, according to official estimates.
The size of these payments will probably anger millions of families who are struggling to keep up with the economic downturn.
The average salary before tax is currentlyjust over £25,000, but after deductions that sum shrinks to just over £19,000, but, benefits are tax-free.
Employment minister Tony McNulty insisted that 140,000 families represents just 1% of households with at least one person of working age.
Shadow work and pensions secretary Chris Grayling, who obtained the information through parliamentary questions, said the number was still “an awful lot”.
He added that many families would be receiving tens of thousands of pounds in housing benefit alone. Around 2.7 million people are on incapacity benefit, but the Government accepts that a many of those should be working.
Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell announced radical plans this month to get millions off benefits and into work, including reforming incapacity benefit and forcing lone parents to seek employment.
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