Benefit cap

The benefit cap may apply if you or your partner, if you have one, are:

• under State Pension age
• receiving Housing Benefit or Universal Credit, or certain other benefits
• receiving a total amount in these benefits which is above the benefit cap amount. You can read the full list of benefits that are affected by the cap on Gov.uk.

Some people are exempt from the cap. For example, if you or your partner are receiving certain other benefits, such as Attendance Allowance, Carer's Allowance, Carer Support Payment, Adult Disability Payment, Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment, the benefit cap won’t apply. You can read the full list of benefits that mean you are exempt from the cap on Gov.uk. 

If you're receiving Universal Credit, the benefit cap might not start for nine months, depending on your income. You can check if this applies to you on Gov.uk. There may be other exemptions so contact Citizens Advice to check. 

If you’re over State Pension age, the benefit cap will not apply to you. If you're in a couple and one of you is over State Pension age and one of you is not, the cap may apply, unless you are exempt due to receiving certain other benefits.

• If you're single, the cap for 2024/25 is set at £1,413.92 a month if you live in Greater London, and £1,229.42 if you live outside Greater London. 
• If you're single and responsible for a child, or if you're in a couple, the cap for 2024/2025 is set at £2,110.25 a month if you live in Greater London, and £1,835 if you live anywhere else in the UK. As a couple, you are exempt from the benefit cap if you have both reached State Pension age.
• If you're in a couple where only one of you is under State Pension age, call our free Helpline (0800 319 6789) for advice. If you're affected by the cap and are under State Pension age, contact Citizens Advice.