The Government extended the national cap on the amount of benefits a single person or family can receive in November 2016.
This is known as the Benefit Cap.
The benefit cap is:
- £384.62 per week (£20,000 a year) for a family or couple
- £384.62 per week (£20,000 a year) for a single person with children living with them
- £257.69 per week (£13,400 a year) for a single person.
We can help
If you think you may be affected by the Benefit Cap, please contact us as soon as possible, as we can help you with:
- extra money
- money advice
- getting in to work
You can phone: 0300 1234 121 (option 5)
or text BFIT followed by your mobile number to 60030
The Cap applies to certain benefits
If you are of working age, between 16 and 64, and already getting more than £384.62 as a family, or £257.69 as a single person, a week in benefit - your Housing Benefit will be reduced to keep your benefits below the Cap limit.
This will not apply if you or your partner are eligible for Working Tax Credit.
You may want to consider moving to cheaper housing if your new benefit payments are not enough to cover your housing costs.
The cap applies to the total amount of people in a household, including partners and any children,who get certain benefits including:
- Bereavement Allowance
- Child Benefit
- Child Tax Credit
- Employment and Support Allowance (unless you get the support’ component)
- Housing Benefit
- Incapacity Benefit
- Income Support
- Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Maternity Allowance
- Severe Disablement Allowance
- Widowed Parent’s Allowance
- Universal Credit (unless you aren’t deemed fit for work)
Some benefits don’t count towards the Cap
The cap won’t apply to you - if you, your partner or any children you are responsible for - are in receipt of any of the following:
- Armed Forces Compensation Scheme
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Attendance Allowance
- Carer’s Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance
- Employment and Support Allowance (support component)
- Guardian’s Allowance
- Industrial Injuries Benefit
- Personal Independence Payment
- War Widow’s or War Widower’s Pension
Need help?
Most issues can be resolved online, it's the quickest and most convenient way to get help.
Use our contact us form- Benefits
- The most frequently asked information and the solutions can be found using the blue button to the left and if none of the options on that page apply use the 'Request help with something not listed' option to contact us.
- 0300 1234 121