Lord Wilson says justices faced ‘tough decision’ on benefits appeal and that the legislation is ‘harsh.’
A group of campaigners brought the case against the Secretary of Work and Pensions on behalf of single parents and their children.
Despite all seven justices stating the cap impacted on single parents, they rejected the appeal. It particularly affects parents with children under school ageas “it is difficult for them to go to work.”
Campaigners say the “discriminatory” reduced cap targets the wrong people and is not achieving its stated aims. A panel of judges were asked at a hearing last year to rule on whether the revised cap breached human rights laws.
The UK’s leading single parent charity Gingerbread says the cap “fails to recognise parents’ intent or ability to find work.”
We're disappointed to hear that a group of single parents have lost their Supreme Court challenge against the Benefit Cap. At Gingerbread, we believe that the Cap is at odds with other parts of the welfare system, and fails to recognise parents’ intent or ability to find work. https://t.co/lM46x7aMCz
— Gingerbread (@Gingerbread) May 15, 2019
In concluding, Lord Wilson stated the appeals “must fail” as it could not be demonstrated that “this application of the cap is manifestly without foundation”.
