Benefit cap

The cap means that if you or your partner do not work*, you will not get more in benefits than the average wage paid to people in work.

The benefit cap applies to households* in receipt of DWP benefits. The weekly amount of the cap is £257.69 for single people and couples without children and £384.62 for families.

If your total income including Housing Benefit is greater than this figure your Housing Benefit will be reduced so your income is below the above amount.

* You are excluded from the cap if someone in your family is in receipt of any of the following;

• Working Tax Credit (WTC)
• Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• Attendance Allowance (AA)
• Industrial Injuries Benefits (IIB)
• ESA, if paid with the support component
• Armed Forces Compensation Scheme Payments (AFCS)
• Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP)
• War Pensions Scheme Payments (WPS) (including War Widow's/Widower's pension and War Disablement Pension)

For more information, please visit Benefit cap: Benefits affected by the cap