Worcester Foodbank Manager hits with 2-child benefits caps

The Food Bank manager criticized the benefits caps for two children in the UK, saying many Worcester families are struggling with food poverty.

Worcester Food Bank manager Graham Lucas wrote to Prime Minister Rachel Reeves as 11 charities, including Trussell, a national food bank charity.

He said in Worcester, “So many families don’t have enough money to pay for family essentials.”

The Ministry of Labor and Pensions (DWP) is expected to announce a decision on the cap in the fall, saying it is “determined to curb child poverty.”

A letter sent by the charity to the prime minister argued that the limit for two children has drawn 37,000 children into poverty since the government took office.

“Cap wasn’t the right thing to do. It only unfairly strikes families and causes more problems with poverty, especially food poverty,” Lucas continued.

“We look at the ground level and we can see especially Worcester, the many struggling families, and the families that don’t have enough income.

“The benefits caps for both of us make that worse, leaving more families in food poverty. …About 40% of the people we feed are children.”

Lucas said rising food costs were a key issue, and the cost-of-life crisis has generally caused more people to seek help.

The BBC approached DWP in response to Lucas’ comments.