The Benefit Cap

The current UK Government has made the decision to cut the current benefit cap from £26,000 per year to £23,000.

How will the benefit cap affect you?

If the cap applies to you, this means that if your income from certain benefits is more than the cap, your benefit will be cut. The amount of money you get above the benefit cap will be taken from your Housing Benefit or your Universal Credit.

This will only affect you if you're getting Housing Benefit or Universal Credit, no deductions will be made from your other benefits due to the cap.

How much is the cap?

If you are receiving Housing Benefit the cap currently is:

• £500 a week if you're a couple - with or without dependent children
• £500 a week if you're a lone parent with dependent children
• £350 a week if you're a single person without children

If you are receiving Universal Credit the cap currently is:

• £2167 a month if you're a couple - with or without dependent children
• £2167 a month if you're a lone parent with dependent children
• £1517 a month if you're a single person without children