Benefit cap

The benefit cap limits the amount of benefit that most people of working age can get.

Certain benefits are exempt from being capped.

The government adds up how much money you get from a range of benefits including: Housing Benefit, Jobseeker鈥檚 Allowance, Incapacity Benefit, Income Support, Child Benefit, Child Tax Credit, and Universal Credit.

If the total comes to more than the maximum amount allowed your Housing Benefit payment or Universal Credit will be reduced to make sure that the total amount of benefit you get is below the cap level.

Benefits have been capped to:

  • 拢384.62 per week (拢20,000 a year) if you鈥檙e in a couple, whether your children live with you or not
  • 拢384.62 per week (拢20,000 a year) if you鈥檙e single and your children live with you
  • 拢257.69 per week (拢13,400 a year) if you鈥檙e single and you don鈥檛 have children, or your children don鈥檛 live with you