The government's cap on benefits begins today across four London boroughs.

The cap means that families in Enfield, Haringey, Bromley and Croydon will not be able to claim more than £500 per week, whilst single people will not be able to claim more than £350.

Housing benefit, jobseeker's allowance, and income and child support count towards the total welfare payments people can receive.

Disability benefits are excluded from the cap.

The cap will start to be rolled out across the rest of Britain on 15 July and will be fully implemented by September.

The DWP says the gradual approach will ensure that the policy is implemented "safely and responsibly" and that claimants are "protected" through the process.

Households with someone who is entitled to Working Tax Credits will not be affected by the cap – a move which the DWP says is a "clear incentive to choose work over benefits".

Work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith said: "We’ve given people plenty of notice about the benefit cap coming in, and Jobcentre Plus have been working tirelessly to get people the help they need.

"I’ve seen first hand that the benefit cap is having a positive impact and is incentivising people to return to work."

The government claims that 8,000 people have already been incentivised to find jobs because of the cap.