Check if the Benefit Cap will affect your Housing Benefit
The Benefit Cap is a limit on the total amount of money you can get from benefits. If your benefits would add up to more than the limit, your Housing Benefit will be reduced.
Check if your benefits will be affected
Your circumstances might mean the Benefit Cap won’t apply to you – it’s important to check. The Benefit Cap doesn’t apply if:
- you get working tax credits
- you, your partner or your child gets certain benefits because you’re disabled or have a health condition
- you’ve reached the State Pension age
- you live in temporary accommodation
- your landlord is a charity and they give you care or support – for example if you live in sheltered accommodation.
If you or your partner stopped work recently
The Benefit Cap doesn’t apply if you or your partner stopped work less than 9 months ago and both of the following apply:
- you worked for 50 weeks in the year before you stopped working
- you haven’t got Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance since you stopped working
Check what the Benefit Cap limit is
The amount of money you can get in benefits before the Benefit Cap applies depends on things like:
- where you live in England, Wales or Scotland
- if you’re single
- if you have children in your household – this means they live with you and you’re responsible for them
The Citizens Advice website has the most up-to-date information about the Benefit Cap:
England, Scotland, Wales
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/help-if-on-a-low-income/housing-benefit/help-with-your-housing-benefit-claim/check-if-the-benefit-cap-will-affect-your-housing-benefit/
