The government will seek to overturn all amendments to the Welfare Reform Bill when it returns to the House of Commons later in the year.
The bill, currently going through the House of Lords will cap total household benefits at £26,000 a year and replace a host of existing benefits, including housing benefit with in a single universal credit.
The government was defeated in December over plans for financial penalties for social housing tenants with spare rooms. An amendment tabled by Lord Best, which allows tenants one spare room if there is no other suitable accommodation was passed by the Lords in December. The government also lost three votes last week over plans to restrict Employment and Support Allowance.
A Number 10 spokesperson said the cabinet has now agreed to seek to overturn the amendments in the Commons.
A spokesperson said: ‘There was some discussion about the passage of bills in the Lords and the various amendments that went through the Lords last week and the government’s intention to reverse those and stick to our plans. We will reverse those amendments.’
The Lords on Monday will debate how the total benefits cap should be calculated.