The benefit cap limits the amount of benefit that most people of working age can get.

Certain benefits are exempt from being capped.

The government adds up how much money you get from a range of benefits including: Housing Benefit, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Incapacity Benefit, Income Support, Child Benefit, Child Tax Credit, and Universal Credit.

If the total comes to more than the maximum amount allowed your Housing Benefit payment or Universal Credit will be reduced to make sure that the total amount of benefit you get is below the cap level.

Benefits have been capped to:

• £384.62 per week (£20,000 a year) if you’re in a couple, whether your children live with you or not
• £384.62 per week (£20,000 a year) if you’re single and your children live with you
• £257.69 per week (£13,400 a year) if you’re single and you don’t have children, or your children don’t live with you