Fury as a staggering 200,000 families rake in more in benefits than the typical Brit earns in a year

A TOTAL of 200,000 families receive more in benefits than the typical worker earns in a year. That is the same as the population of Norwich pocketing over £39,039 each. 200,000 families receive more in benefits than the typical worker earns in a year Credit: Getty ‘Our welfare system is so out of touch it pays those on benefits more than those who go out to work’, says Shadow W&P Sec Helen Whately Credit: Alamy In a written answer slipped out by the Government, Welfare minister Baroness Sherlock admitted: “200,000 families in the UK received more than £39,039 in state support.” Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Helen Whately uncovered the shocking statistic. Sign up for the Politics newsletter Thank you! She blasted: “Our welfare system is so out of touch it pays those on benefits more than those who go out to work. “Every pound paid above the wage of the average worker is a signal by Labour that effort is optional. A welfare system should act like a trampoline — cushioning your fall and propelling you back on to your feet. “Under Labour, it has become a net that engulfs you and makes it almost impossible to climb out.” The welfare and pensions bill has ballooned to £334billion. But PM Andy Burnham said last week he will not cut benefits to fund defence. He insisted: “We do everything to support our national security but it cannot come at the expense of social security.” Most read in The Sun The Department for Work and Pensions said: “Last year, the amount of people receiving awards over £30,000 was under two per cent of the total. “We’re reforming welfare to end the culture of people being signed off and written off.” 1 comment1