The benefit cap is a limit on the total amount your household can get in benefits. By household, it means you, your partner and any dependent children that live with you.
What this means for you…
If you receive more than the benefit cap allows then your Housing Benefit or Universal Credit will be reduced until you are brought back within the cap.
The benefit cap depends upon where you live.
For this area the cap is:
- £384.62 a week if you are a couple or have children
- £257.69 a week if you are a single person and don’t have children.
What benefits are included in the cap?
The benefits included in the assessment as to whether your benefit income exceeds the cap are:
- Bereavement Allowance
- Child Benefit
- Child Tax Credit
- Employment and Support Allowance (except when in the support group)
- Housing Benefit
- Incapacity Benefit
- Income Support
- Jobseeker's Allowance
- Maternity Allowance
- Severe Disablement Allowance
- Widowed Parent's Allowance
- Universal Credit (unless you have been assessed as not fit for work).
How much benefit will be capped?
The government’s benefit cap calculator gives an estimate of how much your benefit may be capped by.
If you are affected by the reduction in the benefit cap, your Housing Benefit or Universal Credit will be reduced and you will be required to pay any shortfall in your rent. Please contact your housing or engagement officer to discuss how you intend to make your rent payments.
Finding work could mean that the benefit cap won’t apply to you if you are able to get Working Tax Credit.
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