Benefits Cap Calculator UK 2025

Q: What is the benefit cap in 2025?

The benefit cap limits how much in total benefit payments most working-age households can receive. For 2025, the cap is: £442.31 per week (£23,000 per year) for families with children or single parents in Greater London; £384.62 per week (£20,000 per year) for families with children or single parents outside London; £296.35 per week in Greater London for single adults without children; £257.69 per week outside London for single adults without children. These rates apply from April 2024 and may be uprated in April 2025.

Q: Which benefits are included in the benefit cap?

Benefits included in the cap total include: Universal Credit (housing, child, standard allowance elements), Child Benefit, Housing Benefit, Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit (if you receive it and also get one of the capped benefits), Bereavement Allowance, Maternity Allowance, Severe Disablement Allowance, Incapacity Benefit, Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance, and Employment and Support Allowance (in the WRAG group). Benefits NOT counted include PIP, DLA, Attendance Allowance, Carer's Allowance, ESA (Support Group), and War Widow/Widower's Pension.

Q: Who is exempt from the benefit cap?

You are exempt from the benefit cap if you or your partner: receive Working Tax Credit (even if the award is just one penny), earn enough working hours to be entitled to Working Tax Credit, receive Personal Independence Payment (PIP), receive Disability Living Allowance (DLA), receive Attendance Allowance, receive Carer's Allowance, receive the support component of Employment and Support Allowance (ESA Support Group), receive Universal Credit with a LCWRA element, or receive War Widow/Widower's Pension. If you have a child who receives DLA or PIP, the household is also exempt.

Q: How is the benefit cap applied?

For Universal Credit claimants, the benefit cap is applied by reducing the housing element of UC. If the cap reduces your housing element to zero and there is still a shortfall, other elements may also be reduced. For Housing Benefit claimants (those not yet on UC), the cap is applied by reducing the Housing Benefit award. The DWP calculates your total weekly benefit income and compares it to the relevant cap. If you exceed the cap, your UC or Housing Benefit is reduced by the amount of the excess.

Q: Can I appeal the benefit cap?

You can request a mandatory reconsideration of a benefit cap decision if you believe the DWP has applied it incorrectly — for example, if you believe you should be exempt. You have one month from the decision to request a mandatory reconsideration, and can appeal to an independent tribunal if you disagree with the reconsideration outcome. However, the cap itself is set in law, so you cannot appeal against the level of the cap, only whether it has been applied correctly to your situation.

Q: How can I avoid the benefit cap?

The most reliable ways to avoid the benefit cap are: earning enough from work to qualify for Working Tax Credit (usually 16+ hours/week at National Living Wage for parents, 24-30 hours for childless adults), or receiving a disability benefit such as PIP, DLA, or Attendance Allowance that provides an exemption. Moving to a cheaper area where rent is lower relative to the cap may also help. Negotiating a lower rent with your landlord is another option.

Q: Does the benefit cap affect everyone on benefits?

No. The benefit cap only affects a minority of claimants — primarily those with high housing costs in expensive areas and/or large families who are not working. Most UC claimants will not be affected. You are only affected if your total weekly benefit income (from capped benefits) exceeds the cap level for your household type and location. Many people who initially appear to be over the cap are actually exempt due to disability benefits or working hours.

Last updated: February 2026 | Author: Mustafa Bilgic (MB)

2025 Benefit Cap Rates

Greater London

£442.31/week

£23,000/year — families with children or single parents

£296.35/week

£15,410/year — single adults without children

Outside Greater London

£384.62/week

£20,000/year — families with children or single parents

£257.69/week

£13,400/year — single adults without children

Benefits Cap Calculator

Answer the questions below to find out if the benefit cap affects you, and by how much.

Where do you live? Household type

Do you receive any of the following? (These may exempt you)

PIP (Personal Independence Payment) — you or your partner DLA (Disability Living Allowance) — you, your partner, or a child in the household Attendance Allowance — you or your partner ESA Support Group component or UC with LCWRA element Carer’s Allowance — you or your partner Working Tax Credit (even £0.01 award) or sufficient working hours to qualify

Enter your total weekly benefits (capped benefits only — see list below)

Universal Credit (monthly amount — we will convert to weekly) Child Benefit (monthly) Other capped benefits per month (Housing Benefit, Child Tax Credit, etc.)

What is the Benefit Cap?

The benefit cap is a limit on the total amount of certain benefits that working-age households can receive each week. It was introduced in 2013 and applies across Great Britain. The cap does not apply in Northern Ireland, which operates a separate benefit system.

The cap is intended to ensure that benefit income does not exceed what a typical working household might earn after tax. It primarily affects households with high housing costs (particularly in London and the South East), large families, or those claiming multiple benefits.

In practice, a relatively small proportion of claimants are affected by the cap — approximately 74,000 households nationally, according to DWP statistics. Many households who initially appear to be over the cap turn out to be exempt due to disability benefits or working hours.

Benefits Included in and Excluded from the Cap

Benefits COUNTED towards the cap

Universal Credit (most elements)
Child Benefit
Housing Benefit (legacy system)
Child Tax Credit
Working Tax Credit (if also on another capped benefit)
Bereavement Allowance / Widowed Parent’s Allowance
Maternity Allowance
Severe Disablement Allowance
Incapacity Benefit
Income Support
Jobseeker’s Allowance
ESA (WRAG component only)

Benefits NOT counted (exempt from cap)

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
Attendance Allowance
Carer’s Allowance
ESA (Support Group component)
UC with LCWRA element
War Widow/Widower’s Pension
Armed Forces Compensation
Council Tax Support
Free School Meals
Healthy Start vouchers
Discretionary Housing Payments

Exemptions from the Benefit Cap

You are completely exempt from the benefit cap if you or your partner receive any of the following:

Working Tax Credit — even a nominal award of £0.01
Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) — any component
Attendance Allowance
Carer’s Allowance
ESA Support Group component or its Universal Credit equivalent (LCWRA element)
Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
War Widow’s/Widower’s Pension or Armed Forces Compensation

Additionally, if any child in the household receives DLA or PIP, the entire household is exempt from the cap.

People who are over State Pension age are also exempt, as are people with no work-related requirements (though they may still receive UC with LCWRA which also exempts them).

There is also a 9-month grace period during which the cap does not apply if you or your partner were previously in continuous employment for the previous 12 months, or if you have recently lost a job through no fault of your own.

How the Benefit Cap Is Applied

For Universal Credit claimants: The DWP calculates your total weekly income from capped benefits. If this exceeds the cap, your UC is reduced by the amount of the excess. The cap is usually applied to the housing element first. If the housing element is already zero, other UC elements are reduced.

For Housing Benefit claimants (those still on legacy benefits): The council reduces your Housing Benefit award by the amount you are over the cap.

Note: If you are capped while receiving Housing Benefit (legacy system) and you move to UC, the UC cap will apply differently — it is important to check the impact before making any transition.

Benefit Cap Rates Table

Household Type	Location	Weekly Cap	Monthly Cap	Annual Cap
Families with children / single parents	Greater London	£442.31	£1,916.67	£23,000
Families with children / single parents	Outside London	£384.62	£1,666.67	£20,000
Single adults (no dependent children)	Greater London	£296.35	£1,283.17	£15,410
Single adults (no dependent children)	Outside London	£257.69	£1,116.67	£13,400

How to Avoid the Benefit Cap

There are several legitimate ways to avoid being subject to the benefit cap:

Work enough hours: If you work sufficient hours to be entitled to Working Tax Credit (16 hours/week for lone parents, 24 hours for couples without disabilities, 16 hours for people with a disability), you are exempt. In practice, since most people have migrated to UC, this effectively means earning at or above the equivalent of the Working Tax Credit hours threshold — contact DWP to clarify your situation.
Claim disability benefits: If you have a health condition or disability and have not yet applied for PIP, doing so (and being awarded it) would exempt you from the cap. PIP is not means-tested and is available to working-age people with a long-term health condition or disability.
Move to a cheaper area: If your housing costs are driving you over the cap, moving to an area with lower rents may bring your total benefits below the cap. This is not always practical, but Discretionary Housing Payments from your local council may be available to bridge the gap temporarily.
Negotiate lower rent: Some landlords will negotiate reduced rent for reliable long-term tenants. Even a small reduction could bring total benefits below the cap level.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the benefit cap in 2025?

The benefit cap limits total weekly benefit income for most working-age households. 2025 cap levels: Families with children in London: £442.31/week (£23,000/year); outside London: £384.62/week (£20,000/year). Single adults in London: £296.35/week; outside London: £257.69/week. These rates apply from April 2024 and may be revised upwards in April 2025.

Which benefits are included in the benefit cap?

Benefits counted towards the cap include Universal Credit (most elements), Child Benefit, Housing Benefit, Child Tax Credit, Bereavement Allowance, Maternity Allowance, Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance, ESA (WRAG group only), Incapacity Benefit, and Severe Disablement Allowance. Benefits NOT counted include PIP, DLA, Attendance Allowance, Carer’s Allowance, ESA Support Group, and War Pension.

Who is exempt from the benefit cap?

You are exempt if you or your partner receive: Working Tax Credit, PIP, DLA, Attendance Allowance, Carer’s Allowance, ESA Support Group component, UC with LCWRA element, or War Pension/Armed Forces Compensation. If a child in your household receives DLA or PIP, the household is also exempt. There is also a 9-month grace period for people who have recently lost a job after 12 months of continuous employment.

How is the benefit cap applied?

For UC claimants, the DWP reduces your UC payment by the amount you are over the cap, starting with the housing element. For Housing Benefit claimants still on legacy benefits, the local council reduces your Housing Benefit. The cap is applied to your weekly benefit total compared to the relevant cap level for your household type and location.

Can I appeal the benefit cap?

You can request a mandatory reconsideration if you believe the cap has been applied incorrectly — for example, if you are exempt but the DWP has not recognised this. You have one month from the decision to request reconsideration, and can appeal to an independent tribunal if unsatisfied with the outcome. The level of the cap itself is set in law and cannot be appealed, only whether it applies correctly to your circumstances.

How can I avoid the benefit cap?

The main ways are: (1) Work enough hours to qualify for Working Tax Credit; (2) Apply for PIP or DLA if you have a health condition or disability — receiving either benefit provides a full exemption; (3) Move to a cheaper area with lower housing costs; (4) Negotiate a lower rent with your landlord. Discretionary Housing Payments from your council can provide short-term help while you find a longer-term solution.

Does the benefit cap affect everyone on benefits?

No. The benefit cap affects only a small minority of claimants — around 74,000 households nationally. Most benefit claimants are not affected because their total benefits are below the cap level, or because they qualify for an exemption. The cap is most likely to affect large families with high housing costs in expensive areas who are not working.

Related Calculators and Guides

Universal Credit Rates 2026 — Full UC payment amounts and elements
PIP Benefits Guide — How PIP works, rates, and eligibility (also exempts from cap)
Housing Benefit Calculator — Calculate housing benefit entitlement
Income Tax Calculator — See how much more you keep by working
Child Benefit Calculator — How much Child Benefit are you entitled to?

Mustafa Bilgic (MB)

Financial content writer and calculator specialist at UK Calculator. All tools use official DWP and government data. Learn more about our team.