The benefit cap

If you’re over 16 and under State Pension age, there might be a limit on the total amount of benefit your household can get. This is called the benefit cap.

If your income is above this limit, your Housing Benefit or Universal Credit might be reduced.

If you’re getting certain benefits, there might be a limit to how much income you can get.

If your income goes above this amount, your Housing Benefit or Universal Credit is reduced until your income falls below the limit.

You’ll be exempt from the benefit cap if you’re getting Working Tax Credit or some disability benefits.

If you’re not getting Housing Benefit or Universal Credit, you won’t be affected by the benefit cap.

Find out more about the benefit cap in Northern IrelandOpens in a new window at nidirect

There are different limits, depending on whether you live in London or elsewhere.

Check if you live in LondonOpens in a new window at London Councils

You won’t be affected by the benefit cap if you or your partner:

•  are claiming Working Tax Credit, even if you have a nil awardOpens in a new window Find out more at GOV.UK
•  are over Pension Credit age. Check your State Pension ageOpens in a new window at GOV.UK 
•  get Universal Credit because of a disability or health condition that stops you from working. Or because you care for someone with a disability
•  get Universal Credit and you and your partner's monthly combined income is more than £658 after tax and National Insurance contributions.

You won’t be affected by the benefit cap if you, your partner or any children under 18 who are living with you get any of these benefits:

• Armed Forces Compensation Scheme
• Armed Forces Independence Payment
• Attendance Allowance
• Carer’s Allowance
• Disability Living Allowance
• Employment and Support Allowance (if you get the support component)
• Adult Disability Payment (ADP)
• Child Disability Payment
• Guardian’s Allowance
• Industrial Injuries Benefits (and equivalent payments as part of a War Disablement Pension or the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme)
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• War pensions
• War Widow’s or War Widower’s Pension.

If you’re not claiming any of these benefits and think you might be entitled to, it might be worth making a claim.

The following benefits are included when working out whether your total benefit income is more than the cap:

• Bereavement Allowance
• Child Benefit
• Child Tax Credit
• Employment and Support Allowance (if you get the work-related activity group component)
• Housing Benefit
• Incapacity Benefit
• Income Support
• Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Maternity Allowance
• Severe Disablement Allowance
• Widowed Parent’s Allowance
• Widowed Mother’s Allowance
• Widow’s Pension.

• Bereavement payment (the new bereavement support payment will also be disregarded)
• Budgeting loans
• Cold weather payments
• Council Tax reduction
• Discretionary housing payments
• Free school meals
• Funeral payments
• Pension credit
• Local Welfare Assistance payments (England)
• Scottish Welfare Fund payments
• Discretionary Assistance Fund payments (Wales)
• State Retirement Pension
• Statutory Adoption Pay
• Statutory Maternity Pay
• Statutory Paternity Pay
• Statutory Shared Parental Pay
• Statutory Sick Pay
• Sure Start maternity grants.

If you’re worried about finding the money to pay your rent, you need to talk to your landlord. Explain your situation and talk about what your options are.

If you rent a social housing property, your council or housing association might be able to offer you a cheaper property (if any are available).

You might be able to apply to your council to help in the short-term with a Discretionary Housing Payment.

Find your local council in England and Wales at GOV.UKOpens in a new window 

Find your local council in Scotland at mygov.scotOpens in a new window

Find your local council in Northern Ireland at nidirectOpens in a new window

If you don’t already have a household budget (a list of all your income and outgoings), now’s a good time to make one.

And if you have one, you’ll need to see whether you can still make ends meet after your Housing Benefit is reduced.

You might also find it useful to read some of our pages on saving money on household bills:

How to save money on household bills

Help with your Council Tax bill

You could also consider taking another job or working more hours in your current job.