Hundreds in Walsall claiming £26,000 benefits

Almost 300 people in Walsall are claiming £26,000 or more in benefits a year, new figures have revealed.

A total of 299 people are collecting benefits which are higher than the average Black Country wage.

The figures were revealed by the leader of Walsall Council Mike Bird during his annual 'state of Walsall' debate in front of fellow councillors.

Councillor Bird today said many of those receiving benefits of £26,000 or more a year were larger families.

These people would be affected by a proposed Government cap on household benefits expected to come into force, which would set the level at no more than £26,000.

Council leader Mike Bird said: "We have to give people the impetus to go to work rather than stay at home and get this level of money.

"What I think ought to be considered is that people take jobs and if they are low paid, then the income is topped up with benefits. We need to encourage a culture of getting people back into work."

In 2011, the average wage in the Black Country was estimated to be around £22,000.

The debate also revealed there are currently 27,850 people out of work in Walsall out of a total working population of 157,900.

Around 6.7 per cent of working-age people on the borough claim jobseeker's allowance, while the rate of female claimants is rising faster than that of males.

A report on the state of the borough says: "There was a huge increase in unemployment claimants during the recession, when Walsall fared even worse than England overall and still has not recovered. Figures for the borough are currently twice as high as they were at the start of 2005."

Areas most affected by unemployment are Blakenall, Birchills, Leamore, Pleck, Darlaston and parts of Bloxwich and Willenhall.

By Catherine Dalton