Page "Iain Duncan Smith" Paragraph 37

In January 2012 Duncan Smith said that imposing a planned £ 26, 000-a-year benefits cap would not lead to a rise in homelessness or child poverty.

He admitted that peers may want to " vent " their feelings over the cap, the equivalent of £ 35, 000 before tax, but said it would help families who are trapped by a dependence on benefits.

" The reality is that with £ 26, 000 a year, it ’ s very difficult to believe that families will be plunged into poverty – children or adults ," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

" Capping at average earnings of £ 35, 000 before tax and £ 26, 000 after, actually means that we are going to work with families make sure that they will find a way out.

" He added that there would still be some flexibility in the system to help struggling families who were genuinely attempting to get back into work.

Mr Duncan Smith said: " For people who fall out of work, we have always said there will be discretionary measures to make sure that this does not punish people but we make sure that we help them to change their circumstances.

" For those who are doing the right thing who have fallen out of work, we will support them and make sure they get back to work.

" Councils will be able to work with certain key families who may need a little bit more time to make some changes to their circumstances while they push them through the cap and into new housing.