Benefit cap

What is the benefit cap?

A limit will be put on the total amount of benefit that most people aged 16 to 64 can get. This is called a ‘benefit cap’.

Will this affect me?

Here is the link to the benefit cap amounts

If you’re affected, your Housing Benefit will go down to make sure that the total amount of benefit you get isn’t more than the cap level.

You won’t be affected by the benefit cap if anyone in your household qualifies for Working Tax Credit or gets any of the following benefits:

• Disability Living Allowance
• Personal Independence Payment
• Attendance Allowance
• Industrial Injuries Benefits (and equivalent payments as part of a war disablement pension or the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme)
• Employment and Support Allowance, if you get the support component
• War Widow’s or War Widower’s Pension

How do I find out more?

If you’re already getting benefits and could be affected by the cap you’ll be contacted by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). They’ll let you know what will happen to your benefits. If you’re seeing a Jobcentre Plus adviser, Work Programme or Work Choice provider, they’ll continue to help you look for work and get skills you may need for a job.