THE benefits system in Britain has been brought into disrepute by people who “defraud” it – and it needs to make sure it always pays for people to be in work rather than living off handouts.

That’s the message of Work and Pensions Minister, and Basingstoke MP, Maria Miller, after a majority of MPs voted in support of the Government’s Welfare Reform Bill. The MP said the changes she has championed will ensure it always pays to be in work rather than living off the State.

Among the significant changes proposed is a benefits cap of £26,000 per family, and a one-off charge for parents wishing to access the Child Support Agency.

Mrs Miller, who has played a leading role in the welfare reforms, is adamant people must once again have “confidence” in the welfare system.

She said: “A great deal of my focus has been how we can restore integrity into our benefits system to make sure it is there for people who really need it, and not being brought into disrepute by people who are defrauding the system.

“The Welfare Reform Bill has got a number of significant changes incorporated within it, the most important of which is to help people take more responsibility for their lives and to make sure it always pays to be in work.

“There are too many instances where families can be better off on benefits rather than in work and that cannot be fair.

“First and foremost, I want to see a welfare system that supports people who can never work – and make sure that support is unconditional – but for people who can work, it is important that they don’t feel dependent on the system and that they are supported into employment.”

Mrs Miller continued: “Right from the start, our focus has been to ensure that in these difficult economic times, support is getting to the right people at the right time.

“My concern is the welfare system has become something which people don’t have complete confidence in, and that can make it difficult for those who really need that support to claim it without feeling as if they are subjected to potential criticism.

“It is important that we now focus our attention on the important stage of actually implementing our changes.”