0:00:00 > 0:00:02'This is the household benefit cap helpline.'
0:00:02 > 0:00:06It's a tough new Government policy for the unemployed.
0:00:06 > 0:00:09This programme contains some strong language.
0:00:09 > 0:00:11It's all because of this stupid benefit cap.
0:00:11 > 0:00:13If it weren't for the benefit cap,
0:00:13 > 0:00:15then I would not be living like this.
0:00:15 > 0:00:19Get a job or we'll cut your benefits.
0:00:19 > 0:00:22The closer it gets, the more nervous I will get.
0:00:22 > 0:00:24I haven't had an interview in 17 years.
0:00:26 > 0:00:30The government says life shouldn't be easy on state handouts.
0:00:32 > 0:00:36Obviously, tobacco and, obviously, I have my beers.
0:00:36 > 0:00:38Which is about...
0:00:38 > 0:00:3940 quid a week.
0:00:42 > 0:00:47Thousands of families have had their housing benefit cut to 50p a week.
0:00:49 > 0:00:52My dad said that we haven't got enough money,
0:00:52 > 0:00:54and they want to pay the rent.
0:00:57 > 0:00:59Parents who've not worked for years
0:00:59 > 0:01:02are having their lives turned upside down.
0:01:02 > 0:01:05It's to do with everything, Tariq. It's to do with having
0:01:05 > 0:01:07- my own- BLEEP- money, which has a chance of being stopped anyway.
0:01:07 > 0:01:12So can the benefit cap force people back to work?
0:01:14 > 0:01:15Read it out loud.
0:01:15 > 0:01:18"Congratulations, I'm pleased to confirm that you
0:01:18 > 0:01:21"have been successful at your recent interview."
0:01:24 > 0:01:27Over five months, we followed five families.
0:01:30 > 0:01:32Might just as well go home and shoot myself.
0:01:33 > 0:01:35- You don't mean that, do you?- Yes.
0:01:36 > 0:01:38Yeah, that's how I feel.
0:01:39 > 0:01:41What's the point?
0:01:41 > 0:01:43What is the point in trying to carry on?
0:01:46 > 0:01:50The benefit cap is changing lives, but is it working?
0:02:01 > 0:02:04Well, the benefit cap was introduced to try and level up
0:02:04 > 0:02:06the playing field between families who are in work
0:02:06 > 0:02:09and those who are reliant on benefits.
0:02:09 > 0:02:11And fundamentally, what we sought to do was incentivise work,
0:02:11 > 0:02:14because we know that the outcomes for children will be better
0:02:14 > 0:02:16if they're in families that are working.
0:02:16 > 0:02:20The benefit cap is set at £23,000 for people in London,
0:02:20 > 0:02:23£20,000 for people outside of London.
0:02:23 > 0:02:25So that means the total amount of benefits they receive
0:02:25 > 0:02:27will be stopped at that amount.
0:02:27 > 0:02:30This is a level that bears no relation to anything else.
0:02:30 > 0:02:33It's completely arbitrary.
0:02:33 > 0:02:38£23,000 in London, £20,000 outside of London, tax-free,
0:02:38 > 0:02:40is a very significant amount of money.
0:02:40 > 0:02:42The level at which the benefits cap is being set
0:02:42 > 0:02:44is more than adequate.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03I wish to God I'd never heard of the benefit cap.
0:03:03 > 0:03:05I wish. I wish...
0:03:05 > 0:03:08If that didn't kick in, I'd still be in that house.
0:03:10 > 0:03:14This is where single mum Sarah Smith used to live,
0:03:14 > 0:03:16with four of her children.
0:03:16 > 0:03:17And then it all happened.
0:03:17 > 0:03:21Just...within days, I had to pack my stuff and leave.
0:03:22 > 0:03:24And that's where it all started.
0:03:29 > 0:03:34Sarah had been getting £428 a week in benefits.
0:03:34 > 0:03:38But in November, they were cut by £44.
0:03:41 > 0:03:45Her landlord evicted her because her payments had been reduced.
0:03:45 > 0:03:47Now she is homeless.
0:03:49 > 0:03:52This is where I sit in the day and this is where I sleep at night,
0:03:52 > 0:03:54on my sister's sofa.
0:04:01 > 0:04:04So that's all I own, just that black bag with a few clothes in,
0:04:04 > 0:04:07and just the box with a few toiletries and stuff in.
0:04:07 > 0:04:09That's how bad it is.
0:04:09 > 0:04:11I'm 35 years old and I've got nothing.
0:04:11 > 0:04:13I've got absolutely nothing.
0:04:15 > 0:04:17And the worst thing about it, the worst one out of it all,
0:04:17 > 0:04:19I've not even got my kids.
0:04:22 > 0:04:23My little girl, Frankie.
0:04:26 > 0:04:30Sarah has seven children. Three are in foster care,
0:04:30 > 0:04:33but four lived with her until she lost her home.
0:04:36 > 0:04:38They're now living with other people.
0:04:42 > 0:04:44Her youngest is Frankie, who's one.
0:04:46 > 0:04:49I didn't even get to see her first steps and stuff like that,
0:04:49 > 0:04:51and it broke me, so I just broke down crying.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56The first time she saw Frankie walk was when she met her children
0:04:56 > 0:04:58in the cafe at Tesco.
0:05:00 > 0:05:02Frankie! Come on, then, gorgeous.
0:05:02 > 0:05:04Aw, little midget.
0:05:05 > 0:05:08'Just thinking about it now, I've tears in my eyes and stuff.
0:05:08 > 0:05:10'It's horrible.'
0:05:10 > 0:05:11Whee!
0:05:11 > 0:05:14'I've got no choice but to basically leave them where they are'
0:05:14 > 0:05:16for the time being.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19Obviously, like I said, it absolutely kills me inside.
0:05:19 > 0:05:22It kills me inside that there's nothing I can do about it.
0:05:25 > 0:05:29Sarah's 35 and has not worked for 17 years.
0:05:32 > 0:05:34Under the rules, as a single mum,
0:05:34 > 0:05:36she could get her full benefits back
0:05:36 > 0:05:38by working 16 hours a week.
0:05:41 > 0:05:43If I wanted to, I wouldn't even be able to get myself a job now
0:05:43 > 0:05:46because I've got nowhere stable.
0:05:46 > 0:05:49I'm not saying I'm never going to get a job, like, sort of thing,
0:05:49 > 0:05:52but, you know, in my situation, I can't.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58This is the lowest of the low.
0:05:58 > 0:05:59It cannot get any worse.
0:05:59 > 0:06:01But I do think to myself,
0:06:01 > 0:06:03"Flipping hell, what's going to be next?"
0:06:03 > 0:06:05What is going to be next?
0:06:09 > 0:06:13Do you accept that the cap is breaking up some families?
0:06:13 > 0:06:15The benefit cap is designed to incentivise work,
0:06:15 > 0:06:18and what we know is that people are moving into work,
0:06:18 > 0:06:20and we know that children will be better off
0:06:20 > 0:06:22when their parents are working.
0:06:29 > 0:06:32The Government estimates 88,000 households
0:06:32 > 0:06:35will be affected by the cap.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40Kim Carmichael and her family are one of them.
0:06:42 > 0:06:45- Hi.- Hi. All right?- Yeah, you?
0:06:45 > 0:06:47She's come to a food bank for help.
0:06:48 > 0:06:51- So how's you?- Really, really wound up at the moment.
0:06:51 > 0:06:53We've been hit by the benefit cap, haven't we?
0:06:54 > 0:06:59Her family used to get £500 a week in benefits.
0:06:59 > 0:07:01That's been cut by £120.
0:07:04 > 0:07:07- And the children's ages? - Seven, four,
0:07:07 > 0:07:09and both of them, three and three.
0:07:09 > 0:07:12- Any baby food, or...?- Nappies, if you've got any, yeah, five.
0:07:12 > 0:07:14Fruit.
0:07:16 > 0:07:19Two meat, two fish and two veg.
0:07:21 > 0:07:23See you later.
0:07:23 > 0:07:25And you, bye.
0:07:34 > 0:07:35Out the way.
0:07:35 > 0:07:40Kim and husband Steve haven't worked for almost nine years.
0:07:40 > 0:07:42Go away.
0:07:42 > 0:07:44Now, under the rules, as a couple,
0:07:44 > 0:07:47they could get their full benefits back
0:07:47 > 0:07:50if they work 24 hours a week between them.
0:07:50 > 0:07:54I've got severe depression, ME,
0:07:54 > 0:07:58which basically means I get tired constantly,
0:07:58 > 0:08:00I can't do everyday tasks.
0:08:04 > 0:08:06Steve used to be a builder,
0:08:06 > 0:08:09but hasn't had a job since injuring his hand in an accident.
0:08:11 > 0:08:14I'm a worker, but obviously, that accident's cost me my chance
0:08:14 > 0:08:16to work for quite a few years.
0:08:16 > 0:08:18One. One for now.
0:08:18 > 0:08:21I'd rather be able to stand on my own two feet and rely on myself
0:08:21 > 0:08:25rather than rely on benefits going in.
0:08:25 > 0:08:26I don't want to be relying on benefits.
0:08:27 > 0:08:30- I'm going to eat all the custard. - No!
0:08:30 > 0:08:31And all the peaches and all the pears.
0:08:31 > 0:08:33Is there any work you could have done in the last nine years
0:08:33 > 0:08:35with that injury?
0:08:35 > 0:08:38I'm still very limited to what work I can do now, really.
0:08:38 > 0:08:41I mean, it's all about your manual dexterity.
0:08:41 > 0:08:43I saw the pictures of you on the Wii, though.
0:08:43 > 0:08:45- You seemed pretty dextrous. - I'm playing that.
0:08:45 > 0:08:46That's how I get myself...
0:08:48 > 0:08:50..my hand working again.
0:08:50 > 0:08:54That's why I got it, to try and get my hand working properly.
0:09:00 > 0:09:03Under the rules, the cuts are made to housing benefit.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08That used to cover Steve and Kim's rent.
0:09:08 > 0:09:11Now they're only getting 50p a week.
0:09:13 > 0:09:16It's only 50p per week, so that's £2 a month.
0:09:18 > 0:09:19Which they may as well keep.
0:09:21 > 0:09:24Cost them more to send the letter out.
0:09:27 > 0:09:31Christmas is going to be different this year.
0:09:31 > 0:09:34Make sure you don't drop it.
0:09:34 > 0:09:37The kids have had to go without, basically, because the money
0:09:37 > 0:09:39that we would have used on the presents
0:09:39 > 0:09:41has had to go towards rent.
0:09:44 > 0:09:47My dad said that "You might not be able to get as much presents
0:09:47 > 0:09:49"as you might as last year,"
0:09:49 > 0:09:52because we haven't got enough money,
0:09:52 > 0:09:54and they want to pay the rent.
0:09:57 > 0:10:01Panorama has spoken to local councils across Britain.
0:10:01 > 0:10:06We found that more than 67,000 households have been capped so far.
0:10:08 > 0:10:14Of those, 11% have had their housing benefit cut to 50p a week.
0:10:17 > 0:10:23That's 7,595 families like Steve and Kim...
0:10:27 > 0:10:29..who are now facing eviction.
0:10:31 > 0:10:33"Notice requiring possession.
0:10:33 > 0:10:37"After 31st January, that's when the possession is required."
0:10:42 > 0:10:46We've got till 31st January to either get something in place
0:10:46 > 0:10:50with the council or struggle even more and find the rent each month,
0:10:50 > 0:10:53which we probably won't be able to do.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56So by the end of January, basically, we're out of this house.
0:11:04 > 0:11:08- What was that like, when you're days away from that happening?- Panicking.
0:11:08 > 0:11:10Panicking. Worrying about the kids.
0:11:10 > 0:11:12Worrying about having to move them out of school.
0:11:12 > 0:11:14Some people will watch this and say, "Get a job, do any job..."
0:11:14 > 0:11:16- Of course they will! - "..and get your benefits back."
0:11:16 > 0:11:19- What do you say to them?- Yeah. That's what I'm intending to do.
0:11:20 > 0:11:22How are people supposed to pay their rent
0:11:22 > 0:11:24when their housing benefit's 50p?
0:11:24 > 0:11:27Well, we had to have a mechanism that would enable us to implement
0:11:27 > 0:11:30the benefit cap and, in many cases, that's used through housing benefit.
0:11:30 > 0:11:33But you have to remember that a household that
0:11:33 > 0:11:36has only 50p of housing benefit actually is receiving
0:11:36 > 0:11:40in the region of £20,000 a year outside London in total benefits.
0:11:40 > 0:11:43That's about the same as an ordinary family.
0:11:43 > 0:11:46Four in ten families would be earning that sort of money.
0:11:47 > 0:11:51In reality, that's a completely false comparison.
0:11:51 > 0:11:54People who are working also receive benefits on top of that.
0:11:54 > 0:11:57They can claim child benefit, housing benefit, tax credits.
0:11:57 > 0:11:59So their total income is significantly
0:11:59 > 0:12:01in excess of those figures.
0:12:14 > 0:12:16Go to your room, please.
0:12:19 > 0:12:2260-year-old widow Colleen McManus
0:12:22 > 0:12:26is bringing up her four grandchildren on her own.
0:12:26 > 0:12:30- You're a very lucky boy, if you get all those, won't you?- Yeah!
0:12:30 > 0:12:34The courts have decided their mum is unfit to bring them up.
0:12:36 > 0:12:39'I got the two older ones first, almost ten years ago.'
0:12:39 > 0:12:41Stop it now, you're going over the top.
0:12:41 > 0:12:45'Then Ryder, when he was 18 months. He's eight now.
0:12:45 > 0:12:48'And Roman's been with us since March last year.'
0:12:50 > 0:12:53I've got a special guardianship order for my grandchildren,
0:12:53 > 0:12:56and that means that I am responsible for them
0:12:56 > 0:12:58until they are 18 years old.
0:12:58 > 0:13:01That means I will be working until I'm 75.
0:13:01 > 0:13:05Because I'll be 75, Roman will be 18. It never stops.
0:13:14 > 0:13:18Colleen gets a special allowance for bringing up the boys,
0:13:18 > 0:13:21£29,000 a year.
0:13:25 > 0:13:27'The money was given for the boys.
0:13:31 > 0:13:36'It is for extra clothing, it is for days out, it is for holidays.
0:13:36 > 0:13:40'It is for them so that they don't miss out on the things
0:13:40 > 0:13:42'that other children have.'
0:13:42 > 0:13:45You can't go now because they only let you in in blocks.
0:13:46 > 0:13:50But she also relies on benefits for day-to-day living.
0:13:50 > 0:13:54She was getting £460 a week.
0:13:54 > 0:13:57That's been cut by £75.
0:13:59 > 0:14:03Her housing benefit is now just 50p a week,
0:14:03 > 0:14:05and she's fallen into rent arrears.
0:14:06 > 0:14:10'It's not fair. These children have had a bad start in life.'
0:14:10 > 0:14:13They've been given to me to look after.
0:14:13 > 0:14:16How can I care for them when they're taking money off me?
0:14:16 > 0:14:19It's not right. It isn't right.
0:14:19 > 0:14:21We are a special case, we're different.
0:14:23 > 0:14:25'So, so wrong. So wrong.'
0:14:29 > 0:14:31With that guardianship allowance,
0:14:31 > 0:14:34that gives you almost 50 grand a year.
0:14:34 > 0:14:36Some viewers will say it's entirely reasonable
0:14:36 > 0:14:38that you use that to pay the rent.
0:14:38 > 0:14:41All along, I've been told this money is for the boys.
0:14:41 > 0:14:42It's for the boys, it's for the boys.
0:14:42 > 0:14:46And I've spent it on the boys, on their extracurricular activities,
0:14:46 > 0:14:47on things they want,
0:14:47 > 0:14:49on their Christmas, on their birthdays.
0:14:49 > 0:14:53I'm not being greedy, and I'm not trying to be controversial
0:14:53 > 0:14:57or to say to anybody, "Yes, I should have it because it's my right."
0:14:57 > 0:15:00What I'm saying is this money is for the boys.
0:15:11 > 0:15:15It's been two months since Steve and Kim had their benefits capped
0:15:15 > 0:15:18at £20,000 a year.
0:15:19 > 0:15:21£20,000 a year does sound a lot.
0:15:21 > 0:15:23It's not a lot, really.
0:15:23 > 0:15:25By the time you've paid your gas, your electric, your rent,
0:15:25 > 0:15:27if you've got to pay rent, your council tax,
0:15:27 > 0:15:30your food shopping...clothes for the kids,
0:15:30 > 0:15:34trips, school trips and stuff like that,
0:15:34 > 0:15:36your weekly money soon goes.
0:15:36 > 0:15:38Oh! It's 10-1!
0:15:40 > 0:15:42Go away, loser!
0:15:42 > 0:15:44'We've had to cut back on the food shopping.'
0:15:44 > 0:15:47We're worrying about when we can and can't put the heating on,
0:15:47 > 0:15:49basically, because of thinking...
0:15:49 > 0:15:54well...you know, "I've got to have that money to last me the week."
0:15:54 > 0:15:55- Go and share that.- Thanks.
0:15:55 > 0:15:59Cameron... No, Ewan first, cos he asked first.
0:15:59 > 0:16:01And then you can have it second, OK?
0:16:01 > 0:16:03'Every day just costs.
0:16:03 > 0:16:06'Bread, milk, topping everything up.'
0:16:06 > 0:16:07The food is £135 per week.
0:16:07 > 0:16:09That's our budget.
0:16:09 > 0:16:12Plus nappies and that, as well. Nappies, wipes.
0:16:12 > 0:16:14We obviously need toilet rolls and stuff like that
0:16:14 > 0:16:16which, obviously, your essentials.
0:16:16 > 0:16:19Obviously, tobacco, and obviously, I have my beers.
0:16:21 > 0:16:24Which is about...40 quid a week.
0:16:29 > 0:16:32Why do you need £40 on beer and cigarettes,
0:16:32 > 0:16:33if the budget is so tight?
0:16:33 > 0:16:35I make sure the kids have got their food first.
0:16:35 > 0:16:40What I do with the rest of that money after that is my business,
0:16:40 > 0:16:41no-one else's.
0:16:41 > 0:16:43What do you think about the people who will say, you know,
0:16:43 > 0:16:45you shouldn't have beer and cigarettes?
0:16:45 > 0:16:48I'd say to you how much do you spend on it?
0:16:48 > 0:16:51That's it. How much do you spend on beer and on cigarettes?
0:16:53 > 0:16:55I think people have every right to feel aggrieved
0:16:55 > 0:16:58when they pick up their newspaper or turn on their television
0:16:58 > 0:17:01and they see very large families
0:17:01 > 0:17:03receiving huge amounts of money in benefits,
0:17:03 > 0:17:05often living lifestyles
0:17:05 > 0:17:08that taxpayers cannot afford for themselves.
0:17:08 > 0:17:11The collateral damage in all of this are the children.
0:17:11 > 0:17:13Whatever you think of the parents,
0:17:13 > 0:17:16the children didn't do anything to deserve this,
0:17:16 > 0:17:18and they find themselves living in families
0:17:18 > 0:17:21where there simply isn't enough to live on,
0:17:21 > 0:17:23parents can't put food on the table,
0:17:23 > 0:17:26and they're also humiliated by having to attend food banks
0:17:26 > 0:17:28to get the food they need.
0:17:40 > 0:17:43You didn't look then, did you?
0:17:46 > 0:17:49We just want to... hope we have somewhere to live.
0:17:50 > 0:17:55Steve and Kim are now three weeks away from losing their home.
0:17:56 > 0:18:00The government's set aside £67 million this year
0:18:00 > 0:18:03to help people affected by the cap.
0:18:04 > 0:18:07It's called Discretionary Housing Payment,
0:18:07 > 0:18:08and Steve needs it.
0:18:09 > 0:18:11We've had an eviction notice,
0:18:11 > 0:18:13which will be served at the end of January...
0:18:16 > 0:18:18..which will basically leave me homeless,
0:18:18 > 0:18:20and my four kids and the wife, so...
0:18:23 > 0:18:25Let's see if they'll actually do anything for me.
0:18:28 > 0:18:31A lot is riding on this meeting.
0:18:31 > 0:18:35If he doesn't get the money, the family could lose their home.
0:18:37 > 0:18:39- I'll get your pram.- Mummy, help me.
0:18:39 > 0:18:43You want me to help you? Come on, then.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46It's an anxious wait for Kim and the children.
0:18:49 > 0:18:51- Ready?- Yes, go.
0:18:53 > 0:18:55'If we move through choice, that's different.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58'But basically, to be forced out of your own home because the council
0:18:58 > 0:19:02'decides they're not going to pay the housing benefit, it's not fair.'
0:19:02 > 0:19:04And stop!
0:19:07 > 0:19:12- Basically, they approved it this morning.- Brilliant.
0:19:12 > 0:19:15So they'll pay up to the end of March, 31st of March.
0:19:15 > 0:19:18Do you know what? That's a huge relief.
0:19:18 > 0:19:21Means they're all right, at least the kids have somewhere to live,
0:19:21 > 0:19:24they don't have to stress out, they're all right for school, so...
0:19:24 > 0:19:26Happy days, isn't it?
0:19:26 > 0:19:28We can stay in the house...
0:19:30 > 0:19:34..until the end of March, that's what he said.
0:19:36 > 0:19:40But the extra money won't last long.
0:19:40 > 0:19:44Only up to March 31st at the minute. It doesn't last forever,
0:19:44 > 0:19:47they just check your circumstances over and over, so...
0:19:47 > 0:19:50Hopefully, one of us is in a job by then.
0:19:57 > 0:19:59What happens if people lose their home?
0:19:59 > 0:20:02Isn't that more expensive, trying to rehouse them?
0:20:02 > 0:20:04We've put in a significant amount of support,
0:20:04 > 0:20:06including Discretionary Housing Payments,
0:20:06 > 0:20:09to make sure people are able to adjust to the new level
0:20:09 > 0:20:12of the benefit cap, and able to make the right choices
0:20:12 > 0:20:13about their families.
0:20:13 > 0:20:15The benefit cap, say, is going to save
0:20:15 > 0:20:18about £150 million a year in the long run.
0:20:18 > 0:20:22Whereas the government spends about £100 billion a year
0:20:22 > 0:20:24on benefits for the working age population.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27And, so, £150 million is still only
0:20:27 > 0:20:30a fraction of that total amount spent on benefits.
0:20:31 > 0:20:34Many of the savings the government intended to make
0:20:34 > 0:20:37are being lost because they have to spend
0:20:37 > 0:20:38on Discretionary Housing Payments,
0:20:38 > 0:20:41in order to prevent people being made homeless.
0:20:41 > 0:20:45So they're taking with one hand and giving back with another hand.
0:20:45 > 0:20:47It's kind of a strange way
0:20:47 > 0:20:50of determining public policy on benefits.
0:20:56 > 0:21:00Sarah has now been homeless for three months.
0:21:00 > 0:21:02Whee!
0:21:02 > 0:21:05She's still living on her sister's sofa.
0:21:06 > 0:21:10Her youngest daughter, Frankie, has now moved in with her...
0:21:12 > 0:21:16..but her other kids are still staying with other people.
0:21:18 > 0:21:20Frankie! Frankie!
0:21:20 > 0:21:25'All I just want is somewhere to live, to have my family back.
0:21:25 > 0:21:28'It breaks my heart. It really, really breaks my heart.'
0:21:28 > 0:21:31- Mum, Mum!- Mum, Mum. Mum. - SHE LAUGHS
0:21:31 > 0:21:33I love it when she says that - "Mum."
0:21:37 > 0:21:40Aw, my little baby, aren't you?
0:21:44 > 0:21:48Sarah wants to find out if she can afford a house
0:21:48 > 0:21:50under the benefit cap.
0:21:50 > 0:21:53She's facing a difficult decision.
0:21:53 > 0:21:55To avoid being capped,
0:21:55 > 0:21:59she might have to choose which of her children can live with her.
0:21:59 > 0:22:02I'm looking at local authority accommodation
0:22:02 > 0:22:04and the rent levels for this part of the country,
0:22:04 > 0:22:06and with three children,
0:22:06 > 0:22:08you would actually be below the benefit cap
0:22:08 > 0:22:10and you would not be affected by it.
0:22:10 > 0:22:12But, of course, you've got four children,
0:22:12 > 0:22:14the benefit cap will apply
0:22:14 > 0:22:16- and you won't get full housing benefit.- Yeah.
0:22:16 > 0:22:22So, if she wants to escape the cap, she'll have to leave a child behind.
0:22:23 > 0:22:26I think it's the most horriblest, terriblest thing
0:22:26 > 0:22:28they could have brought out
0:22:28 > 0:22:32because if it's doing this to families and stuff, we're like...
0:22:32 > 0:22:34Families need to be together and, obviously,
0:22:34 > 0:22:37it's broke me up with my family and stuff like that.
0:22:37 > 0:22:40And, obviously, it's been about four months now or something
0:22:40 > 0:22:44and I'm still not settled, I've still not got my children back.
0:22:51 > 0:22:52You all right?
0:22:54 > 0:22:58Bruce Deakin is a single dad looking after four kids.
0:22:58 > 0:23:01Two more!
0:23:01 > 0:23:04He volunteers at his children's swimming club,
0:23:04 > 0:23:07but hasn't worked for six years.
0:23:07 > 0:23:09- What? - CHILD SHOUTS
0:23:09 > 0:23:12HE LAUGHS
0:23:12 > 0:23:15He used to get £460 a week in benefits.
0:23:15 > 0:23:18They've been cut by £80.
0:23:19 > 0:23:20When you get to that...
0:23:22 > 0:23:24..gambol, carry on.
0:23:24 > 0:23:26He could lose his home.
0:23:26 > 0:23:27Just do two lengths...
0:23:27 > 0:23:30'I've given up everything I can.
0:23:30 > 0:23:33'I don't drink, I don't smoke any more.
0:23:33 > 0:23:37'Everything I do is for the benefit of the kids.'
0:23:38 > 0:23:44As far as I'm concerned, it's their happiness is my priority.
0:23:44 > 0:23:49What they want, what they need, comes before mine.
0:23:51 > 0:23:52Aw!
0:23:53 > 0:23:56He says he wants to work...
0:23:56 > 0:23:58You're now dead!
0:23:58 > 0:24:00..but the issue is childcare.
0:24:00 > 0:24:04How can he hold down a job and look after his four children?
0:24:04 > 0:24:06See you later.
0:24:07 > 0:24:11More than 60% of those affected by the cap
0:24:11 > 0:24:14are single parents like Bruce.
0:24:14 > 0:24:16'It doesn't matter any more what job I do,
0:24:16 > 0:24:20'it just has to allow me
0:24:20 > 0:24:26'to financially secure the children and everything that's going on.'
0:24:35 > 0:24:36Shift work.
0:24:36 > 0:24:40Can't do shift work, again, cos of the childcare implications.
0:24:41 > 0:24:43Last week, I applied for nine.
0:24:43 > 0:24:47The week before, I think I applied for seven
0:24:47 > 0:24:53and I only heard anything back off one of them.
0:24:53 > 0:24:56When I spoke to the gentleman on the phone,
0:24:56 > 0:25:00he basically told me I needed to be completely flexible with my hours.
0:25:00 > 0:25:05Erm, they'd call me up the night before
0:25:05 > 0:25:08and tell me what I'd be working the next day,
0:25:08 > 0:25:10which, obviously, I can't do
0:25:10 > 0:25:13because I've got no-one to sort out the children.
0:25:18 > 0:25:22He says working too many hours could leave him worse off.
0:25:24 > 0:25:29What makes me best off and the most comfortable financially
0:25:29 > 0:25:32is to get between 16 and 21 hours.
0:25:32 > 0:25:36As soon as you go over that, you start losing too many benefits.
0:25:40 > 0:25:42I don't feel like I am part of the...
0:25:43 > 0:25:47..not-wanting-to-work group that are just there scrounging.
0:25:47 > 0:25:50I'm trying my best to go out to work.
0:25:50 > 0:25:55I'm trying my best to show my kids that this is the way to do things,
0:25:55 > 0:26:00this is the right way to do things, this is how you better yourself,
0:26:00 > 0:26:03this is how you make your life better.
0:26:20 > 0:26:26Oh, overdue rent from Ashfield Homes Service Directorate.
0:26:26 > 0:26:28They sound posh, don't they?
0:26:28 > 0:26:32It's two months since grandmother Colleen was capped.
0:26:32 > 0:26:35I'm fed up of getting letters coming through the door saying,
0:26:35 > 0:26:37"You have not paid your rent."
0:26:37 > 0:26:39SHE SIGHS
0:26:39 > 0:26:41It shouldn't be like that.
0:26:42 > 0:26:47£168.39 in arrears now.
0:26:47 > 0:26:51I haven't got £168.39, so it'll have to be in arrears,
0:26:51 > 0:26:52and next week, it'll be even more.
0:26:56 > 0:26:59Colleen doesn't want to pay the rent
0:26:59 > 0:27:01with the special allowance she gets for the boys.
0:27:02 > 0:27:06Today, her benefits are paid, and she's struggling.
0:27:06 > 0:27:08I always check. I check it most days, actually,
0:27:08 > 0:27:11but certainly on the days that they get monies due.
0:27:11 > 0:27:12I check it then.
0:27:12 > 0:27:13Right, come on, then.
0:27:14 > 0:27:18And it's gone in, so I can go and pay the rent,
0:27:18 > 0:27:20or at least some of it.
0:27:20 > 0:27:25Not all of it, or there's nothing left for food and other bills.
0:27:25 > 0:27:28Yeah, could you tell me how much rent I owe, please?
0:27:28 > 0:27:29Thank you.
0:27:34 > 0:27:35Thank you.
0:27:35 > 0:27:37She pays off £100.
0:27:39 > 0:27:43- That's lovely. Thank you. - See you again. Bye.- Bye.
0:27:46 > 0:27:50Colleen has already raised her own four children,
0:27:50 > 0:27:54and says she gave up work to take care of her grandkids.
0:27:56 > 0:27:58- Do you want your yoghurts?- Yeah.
0:27:58 > 0:28:01They're not on offer, but never mind.
0:28:01 > 0:28:04- You can only have one, then, right? - Yeah!- Just one today.
0:28:04 > 0:28:07If she didn't look after them, they'd be in care...
0:28:07 > 0:28:10I thought you were helping me.
0:28:10 > 0:28:14..and that would cost the taxpayer at least £100,000 a year.
0:28:15 > 0:28:18- Do you want to get me milk, please? - Yeah.
0:28:18 > 0:28:19God, that's expensive.
0:28:20 > 0:28:23This one is lots, lots cheaper, so we'll get this one.
0:28:27 > 0:28:29See what we're up to.
0:28:29 > 0:28:3222.45. That's not too bad, actually.
0:28:33 > 0:28:35Oh, decisions, decisions.
0:28:37 > 0:28:40£40.14.
0:28:40 > 0:28:42- MACHINE:- 'Thank you for shopping at Tesco.'
0:28:49 > 0:28:52Somebody's got to do something to rectify this situation
0:28:52 > 0:28:54because it is so, so appalling.
0:28:56 > 0:28:58I probably got off lightly there.
0:29:00 > 0:29:03Colleen says looking after four kids on her own
0:29:03 > 0:29:06means it's impossible for her to get a job,
0:29:06 > 0:29:09but she needs to work to escape the cap.
0:29:09 > 0:29:12- You, Ryder, you do it.- Me?
0:29:12 > 0:29:15I can't work. Roman's three.
0:29:17 > 0:29:21I've got an hour-and-a-half a day without him. And I also...
0:29:21 > 0:29:25You know, find me a job that'll keep me and these four boys
0:29:25 > 0:29:28without me claiming benefits - a decent job, a properly paid job.
0:29:28 > 0:29:31Find me one, and pay for the childcare.
0:29:31 > 0:29:34You know, this is crazy. It's absolutely crazy.
0:29:34 > 0:29:36Get in there.
0:29:38 > 0:29:41It's estimated that almost
0:29:41 > 0:29:44a quarter of a million children are affected by the benefit cap.
0:29:45 > 0:29:48They have to see me upset and that I'm tired all the time,
0:29:48 > 0:29:52and I'm just not a proper nana, which is all I ever wanted to be.
0:29:54 > 0:29:56Never wanted to be anything else.
0:29:58 > 0:30:00The whole situation's horrible.
0:30:14 > 0:30:17You're strong for the boys. You can't be like that all the time.
0:30:17 > 0:30:21- No, I can't, no. - What are the worst bits for you?
0:30:21 > 0:30:23Just worrying about the boys.
0:30:25 > 0:30:28Worrying about the boys, cos this is so wrong.
0:30:28 > 0:30:32Me and they, we're being vilified for something that isn't our fault.
0:30:32 > 0:30:35We haven't done this, we haven't caused this,
0:30:35 > 0:30:38and we're being penalised for something we haven't done,
0:30:38 > 0:30:40when we've all done the right things,
0:30:40 > 0:30:42and we're being penalised.
0:30:46 > 0:30:49We reckon, of people affected by the benefit cap,
0:30:49 > 0:30:53about 80% of them are not really in a category expected to work
0:30:53 > 0:30:56because they're sick or they have very young children.
0:30:56 > 0:30:59So there's an overall question about how this can be a policy
0:30:59 > 0:31:02about getting people into work when the group that's targeted
0:31:02 > 0:31:04isn't really expected to.
0:31:04 > 0:31:07Do you think everybody who's capped can go back to work?
0:31:07 > 0:31:10There's the Flexible Support Fund,
0:31:10 > 0:31:12and our new Personal Support Package for jobseekers
0:31:12 > 0:31:15is about trying to make sure that people have
0:31:15 > 0:31:17absolutely the most amount of support
0:31:17 > 0:31:19to enable them to make the right decision
0:31:19 > 0:31:20and the transition into work.
0:31:30 > 0:31:33It's February, and single mum-of-three Maria Devoy
0:31:33 > 0:31:35has no heating.
0:31:36 > 0:31:40And that's the letter regarding the boiler.
0:31:40 > 0:31:42As you can see...
0:31:46 > 0:31:48The boiler's broke so, in the meantime,
0:31:48 > 0:31:50we've got no heating or hot water.
0:31:50 > 0:31:54I can't do the washing. I just have to keep boiling kettles.
0:31:54 > 0:31:56Yeah, so...not the best.
0:31:58 > 0:32:01Radiators are freezing.
0:32:02 > 0:32:03Freezing.
0:32:08 > 0:32:10Come on. Where's Holly?
0:32:12 > 0:32:14It's just all so wrong.
0:32:22 > 0:32:26Maria hasn't worked for ten years and her benefits have been capped.
0:32:28 > 0:32:31She was getting £450 a week.
0:32:31 > 0:32:34That's been cut by £65.
0:32:35 > 0:32:37"You are entitled to less housing benefit
0:32:37 > 0:32:41"because of the benefit cap the government has introduced.
0:32:41 > 0:32:45"The benefit cap means the total of all the benefits you receive
0:32:45 > 0:32:48"cannot be more than a set maximum weekly amount.
0:32:48 > 0:32:51"The benefit cap reduction is 65.67."
0:32:52 > 0:32:55Just seems so wrong that they can give you the benefit...
0:32:56 > 0:32:58..then take it back off you.
0:33:02 > 0:33:05The housing benefit used to cover her rent.
0:33:05 > 0:33:10Now it's been reduced and she's £700 in arrears.
0:33:10 > 0:33:13Her housing association wants to evict her.
0:33:15 > 0:33:22We were handed a letter from the housing last week
0:33:22 > 0:33:24to say they're going to start court proceedings
0:33:24 > 0:33:27cos we've been hit by the benefit cap.
0:33:27 > 0:33:32Just don't know whether we're going to have a house next month or...
0:33:36 > 0:33:39The stress, the worry - it's just all hard.
0:33:41 > 0:33:42Where are we going to go?
0:33:44 > 0:33:46I don't know. I don't know.
0:33:57 > 0:34:02Maria was badly assaulted eight years ago
0:34:02 > 0:34:04and still suffers from her injuries.
0:34:06 > 0:34:08Why can't you work?
0:34:08 > 0:34:12Because I suffer very severe pain in my lower back.
0:34:13 > 0:34:16Even if I clean up, like mop the floor or something,
0:34:16 > 0:34:21I suffer with the pain, so I'm constantly on painkillers.
0:34:22 > 0:34:25And I can't bend, I can't lift.
0:34:28 > 0:34:31Yeah, and I'm incontinent as well.
0:34:36 > 0:34:42But she has been assessed as able to work in a limited capacity.
0:34:43 > 0:34:46As a single mum, Maria will escape the cap
0:34:46 > 0:34:49if she finds a job for 16 hours a week.
0:34:51 > 0:34:52People might watch this programme and go,
0:34:52 > 0:34:54"Look, you've not worked for ten years.
0:34:54 > 0:34:57- "This is designed to get..." - I've got kids.
0:34:57 > 0:35:01I believe, when you have kids, you bring them kids up.
0:35:01 > 0:35:03It might be old,
0:35:03 > 0:35:06but I do believe, if you have kids, you bring them up yourself.
0:35:06 > 0:35:08You don't just push them into a nursery
0:35:08 > 0:35:11and let somebody else bring them up for you cos that's wrong.
0:35:11 > 0:35:15So I've spent time at home bringing my kids up.
0:35:15 > 0:35:18That is a sort of luxury, isn't it, to be able to do that?
0:35:18 > 0:35:20Maybe you should have to work.
0:35:21 > 0:35:25Well, then everybody needs to stop having kids, don't they, really?
0:35:32 > 0:35:36A week later, and Maria still has no heating.
0:35:39 > 0:35:42This is what we got from the food bank.
0:35:42 > 0:35:47The last week's been very, very testing.
0:35:47 > 0:35:49Very testing.
0:35:49 > 0:35:53No gas, no heating, no hot water, going to the food bank.
0:35:53 > 0:35:55It's been very hard.
0:36:03 > 0:36:07Just going down to Wirral Change to try and get some advice.
0:36:10 > 0:36:14Hopefully, I'll find out if there's any help
0:36:14 > 0:36:17towards the arrears or any way round the benefit cap.
0:36:19 > 0:36:25I'm hoping for just some idea of where we're going to be next month.
0:36:26 > 0:36:30Maria's applied for a Discretionary Housing Payment
0:36:30 > 0:36:32to help with her rent.
0:36:33 > 0:36:36She's hoping it will clear the arrears
0:36:36 > 0:36:39and stop the housing association from evicting her.
0:36:40 > 0:36:47I'm here with a client who's had a pre-possession order.
0:36:48 > 0:36:52So, I'm just phoning to see whether you can just hold fire
0:36:52 > 0:36:56with this application for a possession order.
0:36:57 > 0:37:04OK, so you're not prepared to stop the possession proceedings
0:37:04 > 0:37:09on the grounds that she paid no payments of the £65?
0:37:10 > 0:37:13It's a pity that things have escalated so quickly.
0:37:13 > 0:37:15Erm... Right, OK.
0:37:15 > 0:37:17So, you're just going to carry on
0:37:17 > 0:37:20with the possession order at the moment?
0:37:20 > 0:37:24Thank you very much for your time. Thank you. OK.
0:37:24 > 0:37:26Right, OK. No joy,
0:37:26 > 0:37:30so you're going to have to attend court.
0:37:30 > 0:37:31OK.
0:37:35 > 0:37:38Her landlord is pressing ahead with the eviction.
0:37:40 > 0:37:44It's totally shocked me, that. There's just no leeway whatsoever.
0:37:44 > 0:37:48For single-parent families, they're just...
0:37:50 > 0:37:53..prepared to see you on the streets.
0:37:53 > 0:37:55I'm shocked.
0:37:59 > 0:38:01I've got to go to court,
0:38:01 > 0:38:04so the fear about that is that we're going to lose the house
0:38:04 > 0:38:06and end up on the streets.
0:38:12 > 0:38:15We can't have a situation where we are insulating people
0:38:15 > 0:38:17who are claiming out-of-work benefits
0:38:17 > 0:38:19from the very real decisions
0:38:19 > 0:38:21that people who are not on out-of-work benefits
0:38:21 > 0:38:23have to make every single day.
0:38:32 > 0:38:36There's finally some good news for homeless mum Sarah.
0:38:37 > 0:38:39She's been offered a house.
0:38:42 > 0:38:45We've got a new house. We've got a new house!
0:38:45 > 0:38:48Yeah, well, today is the big day.
0:38:48 > 0:38:52I get my keys and I'm, like, really excited.
0:38:52 > 0:38:55The council has agreed to pay my deposit on the house
0:38:55 > 0:38:57and do my first week's rent.
0:38:57 > 0:39:01Yeah, that's it. I've been waiting for this day for a long, long time.
0:39:01 > 0:39:03Like, to have a set of keys of my own for my own house.
0:39:09 > 0:39:12Because the children haven't been living with her,
0:39:12 > 0:39:14she's lost more of her benefits.
0:39:16 > 0:39:22Social services have given her an emergency payment of £30.
0:39:22 > 0:39:24That's more or less all I've got to live off
0:39:24 > 0:39:27for me and my kids till, obviously, I get paid.
0:39:27 > 0:39:30I don't know how long that's going to be.
0:39:30 > 0:39:33And I told them £30 is not going to last me, like, sort of thing,
0:39:33 > 0:39:35because, obviously, for nappies, baby wipes
0:39:35 > 0:39:37and just all of our food, like, sort of thing.
0:39:39 > 0:39:42She tells her social worker she needs more.
0:39:44 > 0:39:45It's to do with everything, Tariq!
0:39:45 > 0:39:47It's to do with having my own fucking money,
0:39:47 > 0:39:49which has a chance of being stopped anyway.
0:39:49 > 0:39:50That's what it's to do with, right?
0:39:50 > 0:39:52These people are literally taking the piss
0:39:52 > 0:39:54out of my fucking life and my kids' life
0:39:54 > 0:39:56and they're supposed to be fucking decent people.
0:39:56 > 0:39:58No, but it's up to you to fucking help me this time, isn't it?
0:39:58 > 0:40:01At the end of the day, I've got kids, yeah?
0:40:01 > 0:40:03I'm in this situation, right, which you've never been in
0:40:03 > 0:40:06or anybody probably who you know is in this situation, yeah?
0:40:06 > 0:40:08So, obviously, I need money because, like you know,
0:40:08 > 0:40:10I live day to day, yeah?
0:40:10 > 0:40:12I've got no choice but to live day to day.
0:40:12 > 0:40:14And I've got my keys to my house today, right,
0:40:14 > 0:40:16which I need money to put gas and electric in that property,
0:40:16 > 0:40:19to get my kids back, to feed my kids
0:40:19 > 0:40:21and to go and buy little essentials what I need for the house.
0:40:21 > 0:40:24I'm not waiting when I should have my own money.
0:40:28 > 0:40:30Can't do nothing about it if they're not going
0:40:30 > 0:40:32to flipping help me, like, sort of thing.
0:40:32 > 0:40:35SHE SCOFFS
0:40:35 > 0:40:36Winding me up.
0:40:45 > 0:40:47There's a lady, look, looking out the window.
0:40:49 > 0:40:52- I'm Sarah. You all right? - Pleasure to meet you.- Pleasure.
0:40:52 > 0:40:55- Nice to meet you. - I'm Lisa from the agency.
0:40:55 > 0:40:58- I'll take you round the back. - Thank you. All right, then. Yeah.
0:41:02 > 0:41:04Will the gas fire still be in here
0:41:04 > 0:41:06or is that being taken out or anything?
0:41:08 > 0:41:10- So, are you happy with it? - Yeah, I am, yeah.- Yeah?
0:41:10 > 0:41:12Yeah, it's what you make of it, isn't it?
0:41:12 > 0:41:15So, definitely, yeah. I can make it look nice.
0:41:15 > 0:41:16It's all right, isn't it?
0:41:16 > 0:41:18Kitchen's all right. I like the kitchen.
0:41:21 > 0:41:25Is this our new house? Yeah? Eh?
0:41:25 > 0:41:29- Is this Frankie's new house? Yeah? - SHE LAUGHS
0:41:29 > 0:41:31Is it Frankie's new house, yeah?
0:41:31 > 0:41:34We're going to have a good time here, eh?
0:41:39 > 0:41:42She hopes her benefits will be reinstated
0:41:42 > 0:41:44because her children will be back with her again.
0:41:47 > 0:41:49The benefit cap will still hit me.
0:41:49 > 0:41:53Like, it still will hit me but, like I said,
0:41:53 > 0:41:57because the rent's cheaper here - a lot cheaper -
0:41:57 > 0:42:01hopefully, I'll be able to get a bit more help.
0:42:03 > 0:42:06So, my fingers are crossed on that one a bit.
0:42:06 > 0:42:09I'm quite confident that I will get help.
0:42:09 > 0:42:12I will, yeah.
0:42:16 > 0:42:19What was it like when you were told you were getting the house?
0:42:19 > 0:42:20Oh, I was so excited.
0:42:20 > 0:42:23I was so excited, I felt like running up...
0:42:23 > 0:42:26I felt like running up and down the street. I did.
0:42:26 > 0:42:28I was so excited, it was unbelievable.
0:42:28 > 0:42:30Cos I thought to myself, "I'll get my own space.
0:42:30 > 0:42:33"I'm going to, like, obviously do things how I want to do things,
0:42:33 > 0:42:35"have all the kids back."
0:42:50 > 0:42:53Single dad Bruce has got an interview.
0:42:55 > 0:42:58The closer it gets, the more nervous I will get.
0:42:58 > 0:43:00Haven't had an interview in 17 years.
0:43:05 > 0:43:09If he gets work, he'll escape the benefit cap.
0:43:12 > 0:43:16There is a lot riding on it because it is being done for the kids
0:43:16 > 0:43:21and, erm, it's all of our future I'm trying to secure.
0:43:21 > 0:43:24It's not just for me, it's for all of us,
0:43:24 > 0:43:27so it's got to work.
0:43:39 > 0:43:45Nerve-racking. It was worse when I was in there than before.
0:43:46 > 0:43:48I seemed to do a lot of waffling,
0:43:48 > 0:43:51which is something I wanted to really avoid.
0:43:51 > 0:43:55Erm, but that said, I did apologise to them both for waffling.
0:43:59 > 0:44:04But if Bruce is offered the job, he might not be able to take it.
0:44:04 > 0:44:08He doesn't know if he could do the hours the bank needs.
0:44:08 > 0:44:14It was advertised as 20 hours. Erm, it's actually 25.
0:44:14 > 0:44:18I'm not sure how that will affect the tax credits
0:44:18 > 0:44:22and all that sort of thing, so I need to have a look at...
0:44:24 > 0:44:27..what childcare options there is available to me.
0:44:27 > 0:44:31I think the main thing now is just to wait the week
0:44:31 > 0:44:34to find out if I'm going to be offered the job.
0:44:37 > 0:44:40Research suggests about one in 20 people
0:44:40 > 0:44:43respond to the cap by getting a job.
0:44:46 > 0:44:51About 5% of those affected by the original cap responded,
0:44:51 > 0:44:53within a year, by moving into work.
0:44:53 > 0:44:58For any government policy to have an impact on people's work choices
0:44:58 > 0:45:01of something of the order of 5%, that's quite a big response.
0:45:01 > 0:45:03But you might expect that,
0:45:03 > 0:45:07given how big the losses were for some of those families affected.
0:45:16 > 0:45:19A week later, and Bruce has got an e-mail from the bank.
0:45:19 > 0:45:22- Read it out loud.- "Congratulations.
0:45:22 > 0:45:23"I am pleased to confirm
0:45:23 > 0:45:27"that you have been successful at your recent interview.
0:45:27 > 0:45:30"We will contact you as soon as possible
0:45:30 > 0:45:31"to discuss the next steps."
0:45:31 > 0:45:34- Ooh!- Ooh!
0:45:34 > 0:45:37- Are you happy with that, Daddy? - Yeah.
0:45:40 > 0:45:42You get to hold lots of money.
0:45:42 > 0:45:44HE CHUCKLES
0:45:44 > 0:45:48Now, if he takes the job, the benefit cap will be lifted.
0:45:48 > 0:45:51He'll get his wages and benefits.
0:45:51 > 0:45:57I think I'm going to be about £200 a week better off
0:45:57 > 0:46:00by being in work.
0:46:00 > 0:46:03At the end of the day, it gets me out of the system.
0:46:05 > 0:46:09It gets me off Jobseeker's, back into work,
0:46:09 > 0:46:15and it's allowing me and my children to carry on living the way we do.
0:46:19 > 0:46:22But the working hours are difficult for Bruce.
0:46:22 > 0:46:25He's still not sorted out the childcare.
0:46:25 > 0:46:28He thinks he might end up worse off.
0:46:30 > 0:46:33Hopefully, I won't have to use that much childcare
0:46:33 > 0:46:36and, hopefully, I can get it all to fit together
0:46:36 > 0:46:43so that they can carry on doing all their activities.
0:46:44 > 0:46:47I suppose I'm just going to hope that's taken into consideration.
0:46:51 > 0:46:53What decision did you make?
0:46:53 > 0:46:54I couldn't make it work.
0:46:54 > 0:46:59I couldn't find a childminder or someone to look after the children
0:46:59 > 0:47:01for the Saturdays.
0:47:01 > 0:47:05I couldn't find someone that would look after the children
0:47:05 > 0:47:09late enough when I was doing the half past five finish.
0:47:09 > 0:47:13For the commute back from Birmingham to then go and collect my children,
0:47:13 > 0:47:15I would have missed the cut-off point
0:47:15 > 0:47:17for collecting the children from the childminder.
0:47:17 > 0:47:19It just didn't work.
0:47:26 > 0:47:28Ooh, now, I shall have to go back a little bit,
0:47:28 > 0:47:31otherwise the nasty little man will be round with a ticket.
0:47:31 > 0:47:35Most carers are exempt from the benefit cap,
0:47:35 > 0:47:37but kinship carers like Colleen,
0:47:37 > 0:47:41who look after the children of relatives, are not.
0:47:41 > 0:47:44She wants her MP to get that changed.
0:47:45 > 0:47:47- I've been to the minister.- And...?
0:47:47 > 0:47:51I think, longer term, we have to find a way
0:47:51 > 0:47:55of trying to continue to get kinship carers recognised...
0:47:55 > 0:47:57- Absolutely. - ..in terms of the work...
0:47:57 > 0:47:58It can't be anything else.
0:47:58 > 0:48:01No, that's right. But that is a long-term project.
0:48:01 > 0:48:04- That does not help you out personally in the short-term.- No.
0:48:04 > 0:48:07I think we've got to work with the system as it is...
0:48:07 > 0:48:10Her MP supports the cap,
0:48:10 > 0:48:13but believes kinship carers should be exempt.
0:48:13 > 0:48:16- But if this situation doesn't alter...- Yes.
0:48:16 > 0:48:18..there will be a lot of children going into care,
0:48:18 > 0:48:20and what will that do to the coffers?
0:48:20 > 0:48:22Well, of course, it will ultimately cost the state.
0:48:22 > 0:48:24I wholly recognise what you're...
0:48:24 > 0:48:26But, you see, why have I got to keep applying for things?
0:48:26 > 0:48:29- Why are kinship carers not, "Right, tick box"?- Yeah.
0:48:29 > 0:48:32They are doing a damn good job as it is, and I am...
0:48:32 > 0:48:35- Yeah. - ..but I can't continue with this.
0:48:35 > 0:48:38I've got children to look after. I've got papers this high at home
0:48:38 > 0:48:41and I'm sick to the back teeth of it.
0:48:41 > 0:48:44So, short-term, we've got to deal with the system as it is.
0:48:44 > 0:48:47You know, I accept the challenge
0:48:47 > 0:48:48but, short-term, let's try and make sure
0:48:48 > 0:48:51you've got enough cash to look after those kids.
0:48:51 > 0:48:53Well, I haven't, cos I've got £75.74 a week.
0:48:53 > 0:48:54It's gone every week.
0:48:54 > 0:48:57- Hang in there.- I don't know if I can any longer, Mark.
0:48:57 > 0:48:59I seriously don't think I can any more.
0:48:59 > 0:49:01It's getting ridiculous. It's every year.
0:49:01 > 0:49:04There's something every year, and I can't continue to do it.
0:49:04 > 0:49:06It's too much for one person to deal with.
0:49:06 > 0:49:09There's no help, no...
0:49:09 > 0:49:11No help, no support, no respite. There's nothing.
0:49:11 > 0:49:14I've got this 24 hours a day, seven days a week,
0:49:14 > 0:49:17and I cannot continue for much longer.
0:49:18 > 0:49:19It's too difficult.
0:49:21 > 0:49:23Far too difficult for anyone.
0:49:31 > 0:49:33That's a dreadful situation to be in.
0:49:33 > 0:49:34It's dreadful for anybody.
0:49:36 > 0:49:38I might just as well go home and shoot myself.
0:49:40 > 0:49:44- 'You don't mean that, do you?' - Yes. Yeah, that's how I feel.
0:49:45 > 0:49:50What's the point? What is the point in trying to carry on?
0:49:52 > 0:49:54I don't know where to go.
0:49:54 > 0:49:57I don't know where to go, and I can't continue like this.
0:50:05 > 0:50:07Should kinship carers be capped?
0:50:07 > 0:50:10Well, I think there are exemptions in place
0:50:10 > 0:50:11for some carers, but there are also
0:50:11 > 0:50:14Discretionary Housing Payments available
0:50:14 > 0:50:17and the Flexible Support Fund, Personal Support Packages.
0:50:17 > 0:50:19We have worked really hard
0:50:19 > 0:50:21to make sure that those who are in most need
0:50:21 > 0:50:24are supported by the government.
0:50:24 > 0:50:27I think it's extraordinary that kinship carers are not exempt.
0:50:27 > 0:50:31People who step in and look after their grandchildren
0:50:31 > 0:50:35or other people's children ought to be helped.
0:50:35 > 0:50:38They really shouldn't be the target of this policy.
0:50:47 > 0:50:51It's been a week since Sarah moved into her new house.
0:50:54 > 0:50:58She lost most of her possessions when she was evicted,
0:50:58 > 0:51:01and is having to rely on hand-outs from friends.
0:51:01 > 0:51:06Microwave, kettle, toaster. Got me a bed.
0:51:06 > 0:51:09Just bits and bobs, like towels and...
0:51:09 > 0:51:13Just some bits and bobs like that. That table that's in the front room.
0:51:14 > 0:51:16Yeah, I didn't have nothing.
0:51:16 > 0:51:20Obviously, brought me this rug down, brought me the TV stand down.
0:51:28 > 0:51:33Erm, this room, I'm sleeping here at the minute.
0:51:33 > 0:51:35Obviously, this is all that we've got.
0:51:36 > 0:51:38But it's comfortable.
0:51:42 > 0:51:45But Sarah's had to give up her baby again.
0:51:45 > 0:51:48The house is unfit for a one-year-old.
0:51:49 > 0:51:51This is Frankie's cot.
0:51:51 > 0:51:54Still obviously need to make it all up properly and stuff like that.
0:51:54 > 0:51:57And I've got the drapes to it and stuff.
0:51:57 > 0:51:58But when she's coming back,
0:51:58 > 0:52:00then, obviously, I'll make it up all proper.
0:52:01 > 0:52:02I will.
0:52:05 > 0:52:07I'll just wash them sheets and stuff like that.
0:52:07 > 0:52:10Just put them on there ready for her to come back.
0:52:19 > 0:52:21Sarah's trapped.
0:52:21 > 0:52:26She can't get her benefits until her children move in,
0:52:26 > 0:52:29but she can't buy the things her children need to live here
0:52:29 > 0:52:31until she gets her benefits.
0:52:32 > 0:52:36I need the kids to be here so, like, obviously, I can claim for them.
0:52:36 > 0:52:39I'm stuck in this situation sort of thing cos, obviously,
0:52:39 > 0:52:41I've clearly got nothing in the house or whatever.
0:52:42 > 0:52:45Spoke to the council yesterday and obviously I've said, like,
0:52:45 > 0:52:46my money's been suspended.
0:52:46 > 0:52:49And she's saying to me, basically, like, obviously,
0:52:49 > 0:52:53if I don't sort it ASAP, which there's nothing I can sort,
0:52:53 > 0:52:55then I could lose this house again now,
0:52:55 > 0:52:57and I've only had this house, like...
0:52:57 > 0:53:00I've had it a week now. I got the keys a week ago.
0:53:06 > 0:53:10Social services were supposed to be taking me to this place today
0:53:10 > 0:53:12so I can go and get some bits and bobs -
0:53:12 > 0:53:15curtains and bits and bobs like that, like kids' beds -
0:53:15 > 0:53:19and, obviously, they've never phoned me
0:53:19 > 0:53:21or texted me or anything like that to tell me they're not coming.
0:53:21 > 0:53:22They've just not turned up.
0:53:22 > 0:53:24- PHONE BUZZES - Oh, Tariq there.
0:53:24 > 0:53:27- While we're filming, the social worker calls.- Tariq.
0:53:29 > 0:53:31No, I'm not all right, actually. What happened today?
0:53:31 > 0:53:33What happened to this morning?
0:53:33 > 0:53:34But this is urgent, like, Tariq.
0:53:34 > 0:53:36It needs, like, rushing off, sort of thing.
0:53:36 > 0:53:38Obviously, I can't get my kids back here, can I,
0:53:38 > 0:53:40till I've got my stuff in my house? So, why is it longing out?
0:53:40 > 0:53:43Why are you longing it out, like, so bad?
0:53:43 > 0:53:45Well, obviously, Tariq, it's flipping urgent, isn't it?
0:53:45 > 0:53:47The quicker I get my stuff in my house,
0:53:47 > 0:53:49the quicker I can get the kids back here.
0:53:50 > 0:53:53He tells her they can't give her a lift.
0:53:54 > 0:53:56Do you know what? I've got to put the fucking phone down
0:53:56 > 0:53:59cos I'm going to go fucking mad!
0:53:59 > 0:54:00Fucking arsehole twat!
0:54:01 > 0:54:03Fucking arsehole twat.
0:54:05 > 0:54:08- BANGING - I don't even want this house!
0:54:08 > 0:54:10Swear to God.
0:54:24 > 0:54:26Sarah only moved in a week ago,
0:54:26 > 0:54:30but is already at risk of losing her home.
0:54:30 > 0:54:32She's not getting any housing benefit
0:54:32 > 0:54:34and can't pay her rent.
0:54:34 > 0:54:36The kids can't be here.
0:54:36 > 0:54:38I can't buy nothing anyway for the house and stuff like that,
0:54:38 > 0:54:39so what is the point?
0:54:39 > 0:54:42That's why I get pissed off. That's why I get so mad.
0:54:43 > 0:54:47Obviously, I've been wanting a house for so long
0:54:47 > 0:54:51and, obviously, I've got one, but there's nothing what I can do.
0:54:51 > 0:54:55There's nothing what I can do, like, to make it a house,
0:54:55 > 0:54:58to make it a home for the family.
0:55:01 > 0:55:04It's all because of this stupid benefit cap.
0:55:04 > 0:55:09If it weren't for the benefit cap, then I would not be living like this
0:55:09 > 0:55:11and my money wouldn't have been stopped,
0:55:11 > 0:55:13my kids would have still been with me.
0:55:14 > 0:55:15Yeah.
0:55:17 > 0:55:19Yeah, that's why.
0:55:32 > 0:55:36The benefit cap blows a massive hole in the safety net.
0:55:36 > 0:55:37Parliament sets the rate
0:55:37 > 0:55:40at which people are expected to live on benefits.
0:55:40 > 0:55:44This policy picks on a random group of people and says,
0:55:44 > 0:55:46"You will live below that level."
0:55:46 > 0:55:49That doesn't make any sense at all.
0:55:49 > 0:55:52If you want to think about saving money from benefits,
0:55:52 > 0:55:54there's a more rational way to do it.
0:55:54 > 0:55:57I think the benefit cap introduces fairness into the system.
0:55:57 > 0:56:01It's really important that families who are working -
0:56:01 > 0:56:03and, in many cases, four in ten families
0:56:03 > 0:56:07will be bringing home a similar amount to the benefit cap -
0:56:07 > 0:56:09it's really important that we have fairness for them
0:56:09 > 0:56:12as well as a support mechanism for the most vulnerable.
0:56:17 > 0:56:22So far, the benefit cap hasn't worked for our five families.
0:56:22 > 0:56:23None of them are in a job.
0:56:26 > 0:56:29Steve and Kim's Discretionary Housing Payment
0:56:29 > 0:56:30has run out.
0:56:30 > 0:56:34They're applying for more, but could lose their home.
0:56:34 > 0:56:37Steve is still looking for work.
0:56:41 > 0:56:45Maria has now been given a Discretionary Housing Payment
0:56:45 > 0:56:47that will cover her rent arrears.
0:56:47 > 0:56:50It should stop her being evicted for now.
0:56:51 > 0:56:53She's not looking for work.
0:56:57 > 0:57:02Colleen continues to campaign to get kinship carers spared the cap.
0:57:06 > 0:57:09Bruce has more interviews lined up,
0:57:09 > 0:57:13but has yet to find a job that can fit around his children.
0:57:17 > 0:57:20Sarah still has her house,
0:57:20 > 0:57:23but it remains unfurnished
0:57:23 > 0:57:27and she still has no way of paying the rent.