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Benefit cap checker

The benefit cap limits the total working-age household benefits to £486.98/week inside Greater London or £423.46/week outside, with higher rates for couples and single parents. Most exemptions apply instantly — this checker tells you whether the cap affects you and by how much.

Your household and areaThe cap rate is higher for couples and single parents, and higher inside Greater London.

HouseholdWhere you live

Your benefits and earningsTotals across your household. Use the figure before the cap if you already receive UC.

Total monthly benefits affected by the cap — £

Includes UC, Housing Benefit (if still on legacy), Child Benefit, JSA, ESA (except support-group), income-based Incapacity Benefit, Maternity Allowance. Excludes PIP/DLA/AA/ADP, Council Tax Reduction, and one-off payments.

Total monthly household earned income — £

Net wages plus self-employed profits, combined across you and a partner. At or above £846/month, the cap doesn't apply.

ExemptionsTick anything that applies — any one removes the cap completely.

Someone in the household has Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity (LCWRA) on UCSomeone receives PIP, DLA, Attendance Allowance, ADP, CDP, or Pension Age Disability PaymentSomeone receives Carer's Allowance, Carer Support Payment, or the UC carer elementSomeone gets War Widow's Pension or Guardian's AllowanceSomeone gets Industrial Injuries Disablement BenefitSomeone is in the ESA support groupYou're within the 9-month grace period after losing a job you'd earned £846/month+ in for 12 months

The 2025-26 caps at a glance

Inside Greater London: £486.98/week (couples, single parents) — £326.29/week (single, no children).
Rest of UK: £423.46/week (couples, single parents) — £283.71/week (single, no children).
Earnings exemption: £846/month net earned income removes the cap immediately.
9-month grace period after losing a job you'd earned enough in for 12 months running.
Disability and carer benefits exempt you: PIP, DLA, AA, ADP, CDP, PADP, UC LCWRA element, Carer's Allowance / Carer Support Payment / UC carer element, IIDB, support-group ESA, War Widow's, Guardian's.

If the cap applies

The cap is taken off your UC — or, on legacy benefits, off your Housing Benefit. Options to consider:

Work extra hours to clear the £846/month earnings threshold (even one month does the job for that month).
Check for a qualifying disability or carer benefit you might not have claimed — see our triage.
Apply to your council for a Discretionary Housing Payment to cover the shortfall on rent — especially if the cap would lead to arrears.
Use a free debt / welfare-rights service (Citizens Advice, StepChange) to map out the full picture before any change.

For more on UC itself, see the UC estimator.