WORKING class households in Hyndburn will feel the brunt of the government’s cuts, it was claimed.

Church councillor Joan Smith said, on the Hyndburn Labour party’s blog, the bulk of welfare is spent of pensions.

She said: “Politicians have repeatedly shied away from suggesting there should be cuts in that area of spending, as it isn’t a vote winner with older people who are usually more inclined to turn out at elections.”

State pensions equated to around 46 per cent of all welfare spending in 2011/12, figures from the Department of Welfare and Pensions (DWP) showed.

Housing benefit made up 10.55 per cent, disability living allowance made up 7.87 per cent, and incapacity benefit made up 3.06 per cent.

Coun Smith said: “Targeting something like housing benefit is easier politically, but housing benefit is not just paid to households where no one is working, it is paid to many pensioners and households who are earning but on low paid.

“We spend four times as much on state pensions as we do on housing benefit, but if Osborne is determined to squeeze another £25 billion out of government spending while protecting pay-outs to pensioners, then it is housing benefit, jobseekers’ allowance and carers’ allowance that are likely to feel the brunt.”