The benefit cap is a limit that has been set on the maximum amount of benefit that some working age people can receive.
The cap will apply to the combined total of the main 'out of work' benefits which includes:
The cap will not include one-off benefits, such as Social Fund loans, or non-cash benefits like free school meals. In Work Credit and Return to Work Credit will not be included.
The cap will be:
There are exceptions and some households will not be subject to the benefit cap.
Pensioners will not be affected by the cap.
More information can be found on GOV.UK about any of these benefits or to see if you could be excluded from the benefit cap.
If the cap applies to you then any extra benefit you have above the cap will be taken from your Housing Benefit. When you move to Universal Credit, the extra will be taken from that.
Extra help may be made available by means of a Discretionary housing payment for those who are affected by this change.