Benefit Cap reduction
From 7 November 2016, the Government is reducing the amount of income allowed by the Benefit Cap.
For couples, families and single parents, the total amount of specified welfare benefits that can be received is £442.31 per week.
For single people the total amount of welfare benefits that can be received is £296.35 per week.
Unless you are exempt, if your household receives more than the above amount in total for specified welfare benefits, your housing benefit payments, or where you are in receipt of Universal Credit, your Universal Credit payments will be reduced by the amount that your total benefits exceed the cap.
Please note:
- The households capped on 7 November 2016 were previously capped in 2013
- On 30 January 2017, new households will be capped under the DWPs Benefit Cap 2016
- The council will support all residents with a special focus for new households.
The effects of the cap
The cap in a Greater London borough will be:
- £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.
If you or your partner works, either of the following will apply:
- eligible for Working Tax Credit
- in-receipt of Universal Credit, and your household income is more than £430 a month after tax and National Insurance.
Visit the .gov.uk - benefits calculator to find out what benefits you could get and how your benefits will be affected if you start work.
