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MPs tonight approved another year of the cruel benefit freeze - meaning it is now costing some families £1,800 a year.

Millions of working-age people's benefits will now be frozen for the fourth year in a row from April.

The brutal real-terms cut comes just days after MPs were told their salary will rise 2.7% to almost £80,000.

And it comes despite Theresa May pledging "austerity is coming to an end" with pay rises for teachers, nurses, firefighters and police.

The freeze passed the House of Commons after more than an hour's debate and will take effect on April 8.

Shadow Work and Pensions secretary Margaret Greenwood said: "We are deeply concerned that most working age benefits remain frozen.

Scroll down to see benefit and pension rates from April 8 in full.

"The fact is that austerity continues under this government and it is pushing individuals, families and children into poverty."

MsGreenwood challenged ministers to bring forward legislation to end the longstanding freeze by next month rather than wait until 2020.

She said her party would do "whatever is possible" to ensure its passage ahead of the 2019/20 financial year, with the SNP also urging action.

SNP inclusive society spokesman Brendan O'Hara added: "With the economic turmoil that's expected as a result of Brexit, the Government knows that the quickest way it can get money to those who need it most would be to simply lift the benefits freeze - and it's not too late to do it."

Work and Pensions Minister Justin Tomlinson said changes to Universal Credit will see the work allowance increase by £1,000, helping 2.4 million working families.

But Labour's Alison McGovern asked: "Is that it? We're in the middle of a benefits freeze that is seeing family poverty rise and that is all the minister has got to say about it."

Mr Tomlinson hit back, saying the Government was providing "support for the most vulnerable in society to the tune of £3.5 billion".

Figures last month showed a series of benefit freezes and caps since the Tories took power in 2010 have cost families £888 to £1,845 per year.

(Image: Empics Entertainment)

Typical parents in work with two children would be £1,845 better off in 2019/20 if not for the freezes since 2010, the House of Commons Library said.

Working parents with one child are losing out by £1,429, the research added.

Meanwhile jobless single parents with two kids also lose out by £1,303, or £888 if they have one child.

And jobless couples with two kids lose out by £1,515, or £1,099 if they have one child, the independent Library.

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Today the Commons Work and Pensions Committee, whose chair Frank Field commissioned the research, warned the freeze is "driving destitution and poverty".

Mr Field will quiz Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd on the freeze next week.

He told her in a letter: "Many families are facing destitution as the support they need through the benefits system is simply not keeping up with the rising cost of living."

(Image: PA)

Mr Field said the freeze had already saved £2.5bn of its intended £3bn due to higher than expected inflation.

And he urged Ms Rudd - who has said she wants the freeze to finish in April 2020 - to "end the benefits freeze a year early".

Independent Group MP Heidi Allen, a former Tory, said: "The Work and Pensions Select Committee has compiled evidence that shows that ending the benefits freeze would lift 200,000 people out of poverty.

"There is simply no need to persist with this final year of the benefits freeze.

"It is not too late for the Treasury to change course and end the four year freeze now."

Work and Pensions Minister Justin Tomlinson described the debate as "very helpful to focus our minds as we share the proceeds of growth in the coming years to make sure that we're targeting support for those that most need it."

He finished his statement on the changes, saying: "With this spending we are upholding our commitment to pensioners, maintaining the triple lock, helping the poorest pensioners with pension credit, and ensuring working people can earn more before their Universal Credit payment is reduced and providing essential support to disabled people and carers."

Benefit and pension rates from 8 April 2019

Here's how rates are due to change - stated weekly unless otherwise shown.

Attendance allowance: £87.65 (up from £85.60)

Bereavement support payment: £2,500 or £3,500 lump sum (frozen)

Benefit cap: £23,000 a year in London / £20,000 outside (frozen)

Carers' allowance: £66.15 (up from £64.60)

Disability Living Allowance: £148.85 maximum (up from 145.35)

Employment and Support Allowance: £73.10 basic for over-25s (frozen)

ESA component for 'work-related activity' group: £29.05 (frozen)

ESA component for 'support' group: £38.55 (up from £37.65)

ESA severe disability premium: £65.85 (up from £64.30)

Housing benefit: £73.10 for single people over 25; £114.85 for couples over 18 (frozen)

Jobseekers' allowance: £73.10 for over-25s, £57.90 under-25s (frozen)

Maternity allowance: £148.68 (up from £145.18)

Statutory maternity/paternity leave pay: £118 (up from £116)

PIP daily living enhanced: £87.65 (up from £85.60)

PIP daily living standard: £58.70 (up from £57.30)

PIP mobility enhanced: £61.20 (up from £59.75)

PIP mobility standard: £23.20 (up from £22.65)

New State Pension: £168.60 (up from £164.35)

Old State Pension: £129.20 (up from £125.95)

Pension credit: £167.25 minimum guarantee for a single person (up from £163)