THE UK Government benefit cap has hit tens of thousands of children in Glasgow.

The amount families can claim in benefits is below £400 a week, with around 15,000 families in Glasgow affected.

The city has by far the highest number of kids in households with no-one in work, more than double the rate in Edinburgh and five times higher than Dundee.

Scottish Labour highlighted the official government figures and said policies like the benefit cap and two child tax credit limit are pushing more families into poverty.

There are 150,000 Scottish children in homes with no adult in employment. The benefit cap for them is £384.62 a week.

Social security spokesperson Mark Griffin said: “Up to 150,000 Scottish children could be at risk from the Tory benefit cap, vulnerable families who are facing cuts because of austerity.

“The cap is immoral and unnecessary, and has a disproportionate impact on families, especially single mothers, struggling to make ends meet and those with children.

The changes are part of the Conservative Governments welfare reform agenda designed to reduce the budget for social security.

Labour said it wants to use the new responsibility the Scottish Parliament has over social security to create new benefits that will help people out of poverty.

Mr Griffin added: “The Tories have tried to rip up the social security safety net, plunging families across the UK into poverty as a result.

"Holyrood's new powers over social security allow us the opportunity to build a different type of country. One based on fairness, dignity and respect.

“Labour would make fairer choices on social security, like scrapping the two-child cap on tax credits, increasing Child Benefit by £5 per week, and using the Scottish Parliament as a platform to eradicate poverty and inequality in our society.”

In Glasgow there are 26,130 children in workless households, entirely dependent on benefits.

In Edinburgh the figure is 9350, in Dundee 5730 and in Aberdeen 4320.

The two child tax credit cap has caused controversy with campaigners and church leaders calling on the government to scrap it.

The UK Government however has said that families on benefits must make the same financial decisions as those in work.

It is estimated the cap can cost up to £3000 a year worse off.