Around 140,000 families are receiving more in benefits â £20,000 each year â than the average take home salary, according shadow work and pensions secretary, Chris Grayling. Employment minister Tony McNulty responded that the 140,000 families represented just 1 per cent of households with at least one person of working age receiving benefits, and that the majority of cases ‘include disability-related benefits and premiumsâ. Mr Grayling said the number was still ‘an awful lotâ.