Means Testing Mania Distorts Benefits System - Willott

3.29.14pm GMT Mon 27th Nov 2006

Responding to the CARE report published today showing that more than 70 per cent of families on low and modest income would be financially better off if they did not live together, Jenny Willott MP for Cardiff said:

"This Government's obsession with means testing has distorted the benefits system to the point that low income families can be better off if the parents do not live together.

"It seems particularly perverse that the current benefits and tax credit system not only fails to recognise the financial needs of two-parent families, but actively penalises them.

"The tax and benefits system is too complex, with far too much means testing.

"It is high time we radically overhaul the benefits system to create one which is simple and fair."