A CHARITY says it is 'deeply concerned' by the impact of the benefit cap in Swindon.

New figures reveal four in every five households hit by the policy are single-parent families.

The latest Department for Work & Pensions figures show 246 Swindon households had their benefits capped during August. Of these, 196 (80 per cent) were single-parent households.

Single-parent Gingerbread called the welfare reform 'cruel and ineffectual'.

Here's what you told us on Facebook...

Joanna Millin: "If they want money go and earn it then. I am sick of working to pay my bills. I don't have kids nor do I want them but I and many others have to pay into a system that sees many that don't want to work, feel they are entitled to free handouts.

"I have worked since I was 16, didn't care what the job was – I did it. There is the exceptional few. I have no sympathy."

Lewis Dee: Makes me laugh, people getting all judgemental assuming all on benefits are lazy and don't want to work.

"There are many on benefits that have lost their jobs and have no choice but to turn to benefits until work is found. There are many that have had to give up work to look after family that are seriously unwell. There are many on benefits that have disabilities.

"The list is endless as to why people claim benefits."

Zoe Stuckey: "I think the flaw is that when your wage is four-weekly and the Universal Credit is monthly it completely screws you over – so it looks like you're earning more money than you receive.

"Some months our wage falls twice within the UC monthly criteria, which means we end up with as low as £80. So basically you are financially screwed and have to live on nothing as well as pay bills. The only way it will be fixed if there was another system which was paid four-weekly."

Alan Walklett: "I guess they will have to quit the luxuries In life and, if they want them, get a job. Obviously if they genuinely can’t that’s different – but a lot could!"

Beno Pearce: "What makes me laugh is in this day and age billionaires have made the bad people out to not be themselves but instead the poorer and neediest. There is enough wealth in this world so that everyone can live comfortably. If you try every day to pull yourself up, how are supposed to walk and run as well?

"Healthy, happy people will have a better positive outlook on life and give more. More needs to be done to help people struggling and it won't come from working class taxes, it will come from increasing taxes on the multi-million pound companies and high earners who have had it easy for too long. Wise up people, the poor are not your enemy!"

Sandra Edmondson: "People expect to get everything for free, have more children and the state will give me a house and I can do what I like!"

Sonia Watts: "I'm on benefits cap but I work full-time shifts. My partner has big health problems and I can't get a second job as my shifts rotate and include weekends.

"I have always worked and I've put into people getting this money, however I do feel some single people deserve a top up on wages it shouldn't just be for families."

Neil Houghton: "I think if you don’t work the reason should be assessed case by case. If you're fit to work then you get the minimum amount and because you decide not to work luxuries such as being able to run a car, Sky TV etc shouldn’t be achieved by benefits. If you can’t work due to disability /illness then if you need a car your get a mobility allowance.

"I earn above the threshold so don’t get top-ups and struggle some months if the car has a breakdown or a appliance at home breaks then we simply go without and I work two jobs. I don’t think it’s fair that those who work hard and struggle get nothing yet those that don’t want to work and have kids get a shed load."