Check if the Benefit Cap will affect your Housing Benefit
This advice applies to Scotland. See advice for See advice for England, See advice for Northern Ireland, See advice for Wales
The Benefit Cap is a limit to 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.
If you get the housing element of Universal Credit instead of Housing Benefit
Your housing element will be reduced so you don’t get more than the Benefit Cap. Check the Benefit Cap rules if you get the housing element of Universal Credit.
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 to you if:
you get working tax credits
you, your partner or your child gets certain benefits because you’re disabled or have a health condition – check the list of benefits on GOV.UK
you’ve reached State Pension age – check your State Pension age on GOV.UK
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
If you live in temporary accommodation or you get care and support
Unless the amount of other benefits you get adds up to more than the limit, the Benefit Cap doesn’t apply to you if:
you live in temporary housing
your landlord’s a charity and they give you care or support
You’ll still get Housing Benefit, but your other benefits will be reduced so you don’t get more than the Benefit Cap.
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
if you're single
if you have children in your household - this means they live with you and you’re responsible for them
| Your circumstances | Benefit Cap limit |
|---|---|
|
Your circumstances
In a couple or have children and live outside London |
Benefit Cap limit
£423.46 a week |
|
Your circumstances
In a couple or have children and live in London |
Benefit Cap limit
£486.98 a week |
|
Your circumstances
Single and live outside London |
Benefit Cap limit
£283.71 a week |
|
Your circumstances
Single and live in London |
Benefit Cap limit
£326.29 a week |
If you don’t think your benefits should have been reduced
You should challenge the decision if you think a mistake has been made when calculating your benefits. Find out how to challenge a benefit decision.
Contact your nearest Citizens Advice if you need more help working out how the Benefit Cap will affect you or if you want help challenging a benefit decision.
Check if you can apply for a discretionary housing payment
If you get Housing Benefit or the housing costs part of Universal Credit and are affected by the benefit cap, you could apply for a discretionary housing payment (DHP).
Your local council doesn’t have to give you a DHP - it depends on your circumstances. If your local council agrees to give you a DHP they’ll tell you:
how much you'll get
when the payments will stop.
If you still need help after your DHP stops you can apply again.
Contact your local council and ask how to apply. You can find out how to contact your local council on mygov.scot.
Get extra help with your living costs
If your benefits are reduced because of the Benefit Cap you might be able to get help with your living costs, for example help paying your rent.
Check what extra help you could get if you don’t have enough to live on.
Contact your nearest Citizens Advice if you need more help with your living costs because your benefits have been reduced.