A woman reportedly receives state benefits and part-time earnings equivalent to a £93,000 gross salary. The single mother of four from County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, takes home about £5,400 per month, comprising her pay, Universal Credit, and help with childcare and rent. She has not been identified or accused of fraud, and payments are understood to have been claimed legally.
The case was raised by a benefits office manager at a meeting with Gordon Lyons, a DUP member of the Northern Ireland Assembly, according to GB News. The whistle-blower reportedly said: "Many claimants and households receive a combination of payments from UC, DLA and Carer's Allowance, (and are) arguably much better off financially than their elected officials."
Benefits cap and MLAs' salaries
In Northern Ireland, a benefits cap applies similar to England. The limit for a lone parent with children is £423.46 per week. Households can be exempt if a claimant or child receives certain disability or carer benefits. Members of the Legislative Assembly earn a basic salary of £67,200 this tax year, while the First Minister earns £139,200.
The whistle-blower recommended a benefit cap, particularly for claimants in work.
Social media reaction and unemployment
Britons on social media suggested benefits should be taxed, should not reach amounts that discourage work, and that the system is unsustainable. One person said: "An absolute disgrace. Hardworking people don’t get anything and a part time worker can receive all that. No wonder unemployment is so high."
The latest figures show Britain’s overall unemployment rate held steady at 4.9% in the three months to May, according to the Office for National Statistics.
Prime Minister's stance on welfare
Prime Minister Andy Burnham ruled out "crude cuts" to benefits but promised to "get really serious" about reducing the UK's welfare bill. He is expected to set out policies on youth unemployment and welfare in the coming days. In his first major interview as PM, Burnham told the BBC he did not want to "blame" people for being on benefits but added: "I think we’ve got to get really serious as a country at getting the welfare bill down."
The Government is forecast to spend £322.6 billion on the social security system in 2025-26, with total welfare spending forecast at 10.6% of GDP and 23.6% of total government spending.
