The whopping £130million benefits bill that is being raked in by Britain's big families
A STAGGERING £130million a year is being raked in by big families on child benefit, official figures show.
The 27,000 families with six or more children include 400 mothers with 10 or more children who pocket more than £3million between them.
The amount of households with double-digit numbers of offspring has more than doubled in two years and there are also 10 mega-families with at least 13 children at home.
With child benefit set at £20.50 for the first baby and £13.55 for each one after, they rake in £183.10 a week or over £9,500 a year in addition to other state handouts they may receive.
The revelations have provoked an angry response from campaigners.
Andy Silvester, of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “It’s not for the Government to decide how many children you can have, but taxpayers can’t be expected to keep picking up the bill.
“Hard-pressed families across the country sit round the kitchen table working out if they can afford another child, and nobody on benefits should be any different.”
Simon Ross, of Population Matters, said: “The cost to the taxpayer of larger families goes beyond benefits.
“There is a cost in over-stretched education and health services, in transport and housing availability and ultimately on the environment and amenities.”
All mothers in the UK qualify for child benefit and there are currently 7.46 million families claiming, the vast majority for three or fewer children.
It’s the Government’s fault I’ve got so many kids
Official figures show in August last year 26,740 households were getting the benefit for six or more children.
Of those, there are 10 families with 13 or more offspring; 20 with 12; 95 with 11 and 275 with 10 children.
Child benefit makes up about 10 per cent of the UK’s welfare bill.
The Tories are reportedly looking at cutting it back to cover just the first three children in a move that could save around £300million a year.
Earlier this year it was reported that Cheryl Prudham, 32, who had twins last year, is expecting her 12th child after persuading her husband Robert, 30, to reverse his vasectomy.
The couple, from Gravesend, Kent, who live in a five-bed council house, receive £39,192 a year in benefits.
They avoid the Government’s £26,000-a-year benefits cap because van driver Mr Prudham works enough hours to claim working tax credit.
The mother of 11 first attracted criticism after demanding her council provide her with a bigger house.
She has said: “It’s the Government’s fault I’ve got so many kids.
"It’s easy to claim benefits.
"I’ve always wanted a big family and being a mum is the best feeling in the world.”
