In April Haringey Borough became one of the first four boroughs in London to have the benefit cap introduced.

As part of our on-going coverage of the issue the Haringey Independent spoke to a mother who is facing eviction as a result of the changes to welfare.

Samantha Watson, of Farrant Avenue, Wood Green, is facing eviction because the cap means she can’t afford to pay the high rent in London.

She said: “I pay £975 per month for a two-bedroom flat which for the area is pretty cheap but now I only get £600 a month so I’m being evicted.

“Everyone thinks that because I’m on benefits I sit at home all day drinking and smoking fags but that’s not true.

“I’m a single mum with four kids, two of which are under the age of five so I have to stay home and look after them.”

According to the 32-year-old, Haringey Borough Council has refused to put her and her children on the housing list and told her she is not a priority.

When she spoke to a woman at the authority’s housing department she was told to use the money she gets to feed and clothe her children to make up the £375 shortfall. The council, however, denies this.

She said: “The lady I spoke to was very rude and unhelpful and told me to use my kids’ money to pay the rent.

“The council won’t put me on the housing list and my options are to either move out of London or downsize to a smaller place.

“I have lived in London all my life, my whole family and all my friends are here so I’m not even going to consider leaving and if I get a smaller place there will be five of us living in a one bedroom flat.”

Ms Watson said the benefit cap should take into account the high rent in London compared to other parts of the country and the number of children people have.

She added that apart from providing help to find a job there has been no other support offered.

The 32-year-old said: “It’s not that I don’t want to work but at the moment I can’t because I have a two-year-old and a three-year-old who need to be looked after.

“There is no help or support being offered other than for getting a job and I’m just not ready to do that so things are a bit desperate.”

Ms Watson is currently recieving a Descretionary Housing Payment from the council to help her pay her rent which will end on September 1. 

The Reverend Paul Nicolson has refused to pay his council tax since May in protest to the benefits cap and changes to council tax benefit is paid.

He said: "Civil disobedience is morally defensible when it highlights laws that are morally indefensible.

“The eviction of Samantha Watson due to the £500 overall benefit cap in the Welfare Reform Act 2012 is morally indefensible because she is in no way responsible for the high housing benefit she received.

“Private landlords have exploited the abolition of rent controls since the 1980s by pushing their rents higher and higher while national governments let it happen.

“So landlords profited from rising housing benefit, but the tenants are being punished, and then charged 20 per cent of the council tax."

The Haringey Independent has asked for a comment from the council.