The number of families hit by the benefit cap in Worcester has risen during the coronavirus crisis, figures show.

The Government has ignored calls from charities to suspend the cap, while acknowledging that the pandemic had caused a record rise in the number of households affected across Great Britain.

Department for Work and Pensions figures show 194 households had their benefits capped in Worcester in May. This was double the number capped in February, when there were 97 families who had either their housing benefit or Universal Credit payment reduced.

The cap limits how much households can receive in total benefits, and currently kicks in at £20,000 per year for families in Worcester and most of the UK, but £23,000 for those in London.

The number of families capped across Great Britain rose to 154,000 over the period – an increase of 93%. The DWP said the rise, which was the biggest since the policy was launched in 2013, was "driven by an unprecedented increase of 665% in the number of newly Universal Credit-capped households, a reflection of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic".

The Government has decided to increase the weekly Universal Credit payment by £20 a week between April 2020 and March 2021 due to the pandemic, but Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey said last month there are “no plans” to make any changes to the benefit cap system for the same duration.