THE benefits cap that is pushing thousands of families into rent arrears and debt must be scrapped to prevent more households suffering eviction and hardship, Labour told the government today.

The party called on ministers to use the four-week extension of the so-called eviction ban announced last week as an opportunity to finally abolish the cap.

Shadow employment minister Seema Malhotra wrote to the government calling for urgent clarification of how many households affected by the benefit cap are at risk of losing their homes once the eviction ban lapses.