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‘Destitution’ warning as DWP rejects calls to pause benefit deductions

Charity warns two million children are affected by decision to keep taking money out of already-inadequate payments

‘Destitution’ warning as DWP rejects calls to pause benefit deductions
Benefit deductions are driving households to "destitition", charities have warned | Matthew Horwood / Alamy
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The government has rejected MPs’ calls to pause debt repayments being taken out of people’s benefits despite warnings that claimants are being left destitute.

The move was announced on Thursday, while the media was focused on the Queen.

MPs on the Work and Pensions Select Committee had called in July for benefit deductions to be paused – as they were during the pandemic – and restarted only when inflation eased or benefit levels caught up.