The benefit cap sets a limit on the total amount in benefits that most working age people can get.

Benefits calculator

Some benefits have changed and others will be changed from 1 April.
Use our benefits calculator to see how the benefit cap may affect you.

Weekly benefit cap

  • £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.

Monthly benefit cap

  • £1,835 a month for couples (with or without children living with them)
  • £1,835 a month for single parents whose children live with them
  • £1,229.42 a month for single adults who don't have children, or whose children don't live with them

This may mean the amount of Housing Benefit or Universal Credit you get will go down to make sure that the total amount you get isn't more than the cap level.

Who is affected

The cap applies to the benefits you get as a household. This means that benefits received by you, your partner and dependent children who live with you, are affected.

The cap applies to the total amount that the people in your household get from the following benefits:

For more details, visit Benefit cap (GOV.UK).

Who will not be affected

You're not affected by the benefit cap if you receive:

  • Working Tax Credit (even if the amount you get is £0) or
  • Universal Credit, but only if you and your partner earn more than £722 a month combined, after tax and National Insurance contributions

You're not affected by the benefit cap if you or another person in your household gets any of the following benefits:

If you've been employed continuously for 12 months, and you lose your job through no fault of your own, the benefit cap might not apply to you for 39 weeks after you lose your job. This is known as the grace period.

If you meet the qualifying conditions for Working Tax Credits, but do not receive payments because of your income, you should still be exempt from the benefit cap

The cap does not apply to households who qualify for pension age benefits.

For more details, see when you're not affected (GOV.UK).

Where to get support

If you're worried or confused about the impact that the benefit cap might have on your household there are things you can do that might help.

Get help getting a job

Finding work could mean that the cap won't apply.

If you're seeing a Jobcentre Plus work coach, they'll continue to help you look for work and get skills you may need for a job.

Find local opportunities, training courses and support groups on the One Front Door website.

Discretionary Housing Payments

If you get Housing Benefit or Universal Credit but need extra help with rent or moving costs then you may be able to apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP).

Get some advice

If you're a housing association tenant your landlord may also be able to help.

Find more advice centres on the ACFA website.

Get help with money and debt problems

Find out about budgeting, how to deal with debt problems and getting money in an emergency on our help with money and debt problems page.

Elsewhere on the web

Contact information

Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction (100TS)

Bristol City Council
PO Box 3399
Bristol BS1 9NE

Contact us online

You can contact us using our online form.

Contact us by phone

Tel: 0117 922 2300

Opening Hours

Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 6pm. Except Wednesday when we're closed for training between 12noon and 1.30pm.