ALMOST 1,000 children in Oxford will be affected by benefit cuts this Christmas, it has been warned.

A new benefits cap introduced by the Conservative Government is due to come into force in December, with an estimated 270 families in the firing line.

It will come after 55 families lose up to £115 a week from Monday, Oxford City Council warned.

Executive board member Susan Brown said some families would completely lose their housing benefits, but this ignored the reality of higher housing costs in the city.

The Labour councillor added: "I am only too well aware how difficult this will be for families in Oxford where the rents are extremely high – a fact not recognised at all by the Government in their calculations.

"The Welfare Reform team at the City Council have been reaching out to affected households to make sure that we are providing advice and support to help them to cope, which may include temporary financial help to top up their housing benefit."

The benefit cap is currently set at £26,000, or £500 a week. It limits the amount households with people of working age can claim.

But from November 7, the cap will be reduced to £20,000 outside of London, or £385 a week. The city council estimates this means 55 families could lose up to £115 a week.

In December, another 270 more households will face more cuts when the benefits cap is applied to all families claiming housing benefit.

Single people without children will also have their benefits capped at £13,400, or £258 a week.

Mum-of-two Safia Baker, who temporarily lost the disability benefits she received for her son Usman between February and August this year, said coping with sudden changes to benefits income could be 'very, very hard'.

She also cares full-time for her husband John, who has epilepsy. Mrs Baker's daughter Oria is in full time work.

The 47-year-old added: "We went to a tribunal and they ruled the decision had been wrong. But before it was changed back there were months where I had mouths to feed and bills to pay but there was nothing I could do.

"If it were not for my friends and family, I might not have survived.

"But you have got no choice than to learn to budget. The government is going to do what it wants to do, we can't change that.

"If people did not rip off the system though, we wouldn't actually need to be in this position."

It is estimated that the full amount of payments cut will be £1.1m in Oxford, the city council said, with 986 children affected.

There will be two new exemptions from the cap, however. People who get carer’s allowance and guardian’s allowance will no longer be affected.

Mrs Brown urged people who were worried to get in touch with the local authority. Those concerned can call the welfare support team on 01865 252755, text on 07786 207664, or visit the council's office in St Aldate’s.