The Department of Work and Pensions figures reveal that more than 30 families receive £1,500 a week, equivalent to more than £6,000 a month and enough to fund a £1m mortgage, according to the Daily Mail.
A further 60 families receive housing benefit of £5,000 a month, which critics say is being used to fund the rent of properties in some of the most expensive areas of London, including Chelsea and Kensington.
Nevertheless, four out of five housing benefits claimants receive less than £100 a week.
Housing benefit currently costs the government £22bn a year and, last year, ministers announced plans to cap housing benefit payments at £400 a week. Yet, the DWP figures show that at 5,000 claimants receive more than this.
It said that the cap would result in families who receive more than £400 a week gradually being moved into cheaper accommodation.
Emma Boon, of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “This is further evidence that it is right to cap benefits. It is unfair to ask taxpayers to pay for swanky central London homes for others when they can’t afford to live in those postcodes themselves.
“Many middle or low income families have to decide if they can afford to house their family in town, or if they have to move out to somewhere more affordable. It is not unreasonable to ask those on benefits to make the same choice.”
