The Benefit Cap

The benefit cap is a limit on the total amount of benefit that most people aged 16 to 64 can get.

How much is the benefit cap?

The cap amount varies, depending on where you live and whether you are single, a couple and/or have children living with you or not.

If you live outside Greater London, 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

If you live in Greater London, 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

Who is exempt from the benefit cap?

If you, your partner or your children receive any of the following:

• Attendance Allowance
• Disability Living Allowance
• Employment and Support Allowance support component
• Personal Independence Payment
• Working tax credit
• Industrial injuries benefit
• War pension
• War widow’s, widower’s or surviving civil partner’s pension

The cap will not be applied if you have reached pension credit qualifying age, unless you or your partner are continuing to claim income support, income-related ESA or income-based JSA.

For more information on the benefit cap, click here.