Benefit Cap

Benefits included in the cap

The following benefits are included in the calculation for Benefit Cap:

  • Bereavement allowance
  • Child benefit
  • Child tax credit
  • ESA (C)
  • ESA (IR) (unless the support component has been awarded)
  • Housing benefit
  • Income support
  • Jobseekers allowance
  • Maternity allowance
  • Severe disablement allowance
  • Widows pension, widowed mothers allowance and widowed parents allowance
  • Universal Credit

The calculation is based on the full award before any deductions are made.

Benefits that aren’t included

The following are not included in the calculation for benefit cap:

  • Bereavement payment
  • Guardians allowance
  • Carers allowance
  • Council Tax Support
  • Discretionary Housing Payment
  • Any one off payment such as budgeting loans, cold weather payments, LWP payments, funeral payments, Sure Start maternity grants
  • Pension credit
  • Residency order payments
  • Statutory adoption pay paid by employers
  • Statutory maternity pay paid by employers
  • Statutory shared parental pay paid by employers
  • Winter fuel payment

 Any benefits or other income not included in the above lists will not be taken into account when calculating the cap.

Help us to improve this website

Use this form to provide feedback on this webpage. Don't use it to contact us about a service or make a complaint. We will not reply, even if you include personal details such as your name and address. If you want us to reply, you should contact us in a different way.

What is your feedback for this webpage?

Give feedback about this page