And on top of all these cuts, sick and disabled people face the same hardships as everyone else – higher fuel and food costs, the rise in VAT, housing benefit cuts, and a reduction of public services.
The gang's activities are believed to have been part of a larger network run by British Asians, who mounted VAT and benefit frauds against the exchequer over two decades.
The figure includes the loss of income tax and VAT, and additional benefit payments.
Take everything together, with VAT rises and benefit cuts, and the Institute for Fiscal Studies says families are £891 worse off this year.
And whereas the Liberal Democrats are proposing a super-size cut to income tax, a levy not paid by the poorest, Labour's fiscal stimulus last year came through VAT, so the benefit trickled right the way down to the bottom of the heap.
Labour argues that average families are worse off, having lost out through VAT rises and benefit cuts.
That would be a disaster for us". And shadow business secretary Pat McFadden said: "What we are seeing is a lot of familiar Tory songs - VAT increased, child benefit frozen.
Cutting VAT and reversing damaging benefit freezes would be a good first step.
Today, the arguments in favour are stronger, particularly with hikes in regressive taxes such as VAT and cuts in benefits and services leaving the poorest even more vulnerable.
Sony Kapoor (@SonyKapoor) The VAT increase, cutting unemployment benefits & haircuts 4 retail investors in banks will all have a very regressive impact in #Spain!
