If you are of working age there is a limit to the amount of benefit you can get.
The money you get from certain benefits is added up together. Some of these benefits include:
- Housing benefit
- Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Employment Support Allowance
- Child Benefit
- Child Tax Credits
- Carer’s Allowance.
If the total comes to more than the maximum amount allowed your housing benefit will be reduced.
Benefit cap
From 7 November 2016, the amount of total benefits you receive depends on where you live in the UK.
Outside Greater London
If you live outside a Greater London borough, the cap is:
- £384.62 per week (£20,000 a year) if you’re in a couple, whether your children live with you or not
- £384.62 per week (£20,000 a year) if you’re single and your children live with you
- £257.69 per week (£13,400 a year) if you’re single and you don’t have children, or your children don’t live with you
Inside Greater London
If you live in a Greater London borough, the cap is:
- £442.31 per week (£23,000 a year) if you’re in a couple, whether your children live with you or not
- £442.31 per week (£23,000 a year) if you’re single and your children live with you
- £296.35 per week (£15,410 a year) if you’re single and you don’t have children, or your children don’t live with you
Those excluded from benefit cap
This does not apply to you if:
- you get pension credit, working tax credit, Guardian’s Allowance, Carer’s Allowance and Universal Credit claimants who receive payments towards carer’s costs
- a member of your household is claiming disability living allowance, attendance allowance or the support element of employment support allowance
- you or someone in your household works at least 18 hours per week.
