article_snippet: the maximum amount in benefits a household can receive – from £26,000 to £23,000 are already on the agenda.
article_snippet: The Institute for Fiscal Studies suggests those measures would save £2billion a year by 2017-18.
article_snippet: The £23,000 limit would vary across the country, with the highest sum paid in London, where housing costs are greatest.
article_snippet: It is said that limiting child benefit to the first two children for future claimants would save £1billion a year.
article_snippet: This would mean better-off claimants losing some of their payments, and would save £1.5billion a year.
article_snippet: Carer’s allowance could be restricted to the most needy, saving £1billion.
article_snippet: And the contributory element of employment and support allowance and jobseekers’ allowance would be reined in.
article_snippet: Currently claimants who have paid enough National Insurance contributions can get the benefits with little means-testing.
article_snippet: Some 30 per cent of claimants, over 300,000 families, would lose about £80 per week, saving taxpayers £1.3billion.
article_snippet: Council tax support, meanwhile, could be incorporated into the new universal credit, which is gradually replacing all the main out-of-work benefits and tax credits.
article_snippet: And replacing the industrial injuries compensation scheme with an insurance policy for employees would save £1billion.