The Church of Scotland has attacked a new cap on benefits which will limit the amount UK families can receive in benefits to £20,000 from Monday onwards.

The church estimates that the cap will lead to a ten-fold increase in the number of Scottish families having their benefits limited over the next four years, meaning more than 11,000 families across Scotland will have their benefits capped by 2020.

The Church of Scotland, the Baptist Union, the Methodist Church and the United Reformed Church all believe the new benefit cap is manifestly unfair.

Rev Dr Richard Frazer, convener of the Church of Scotland’s Church and Society Council, said: “11,000 Scottish families, almost all with children, face being affected by the new benefit cap. We know, from our experience on the ground and the UK Government’s own research that the benefit cap drives people into rent arrears, debt and hunger.

“As always those who will bear the heaviest burden through this cap will be those who are least able to suffer it. By deciding to further restrict benefits the Government is deciding to punish hundreds of children because their parents cannot find work through illness or because of family circumstances.

“We cannot tackle poverty by making people poorer and we cannot leave families without enough to meet their basic needs.”

Paul Morrison, policy officer for the Methodist Church, added: “Over 2,000 single parents with babies under a year of age had their Housing Benefit cut because of the cap each month. Does the Government seriously expect that cutting housing benefit will make it easier for them to find work?”