There is a 'cap' on the amount of benefit you can get; find out how you're affected
Benefit Cap
If you're aged 16-64 there is a 'cap' on the amount of benefit you can get.
How much is the cap?
From April 2023 the maximum amount of benefit you can get is:
- £423.46 a week for couples (with or without children living with them)
- £423.46 a week for single parents whose children live with them
- £283.71 a week for single adults who don’t have children, or whose children don’t live with them
The total amount of benefit that you can get as a household must not go over the cap amount. This may mean that how much you receive for certain benefits might go down. This is to ensure you are not over the cap level.
Who is not affected?
You will not be affected if anyone in your household has qualified for Working Tax Credit or gets any of the following:
- Disability Living Allowance
- Personal Independent Payment
- Attendance Allowance
- Industrial Injuries Benefits
- Employment and Support Allowance (if you get the support component)
- War Widow's or War Widower's Pension
- War Pensions
- Armed Forces Compensation Scheme
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Carer's Allowance
- Guardian's Allowance
For further information see Benefit Cap on GOV.UK (opens in a new window)
If you're affected by the Benefit Cap
Finding work could mean you qualify for Working Tax Credit. You would then be exempt from the Benefit Cap.
Reducing your rent will reduce your Housing Benefit, which may mean your total weekly benefits are less than the Benefit Cap. You can speak to your landlord about lowering your rent or finding cheaper accommodation.
If the Benefit Cap means you don’t have enough Housing Benefit to pay your rent you can apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment. This can help you by paying the difference on a short term basis so you can improve your situation. You can find out more on our Discretionary Housing Payment page.