Posted on 11 November 2016
The benefit cap is reducing the amount of benefit most people of working age can receive. How much benefit is capped depends on the amount of benefit you receive and your circumstances. Benefits for housing costs are included in the cap so you may need to pay towards your rent if you are affected.
The cap on benefits is £23,000 per annum inside Greater London and £20,000 per annum outside London.
Local authorities will be introducing the benefit cap over a period of 12 weeks in a staged approach between 7 November 2016 and 23 January 2017. If you are already affected by the previous benefit cap the new reduction in benefit will commence from 7 November.
The government have announced the following dates when new people affected by the higher cap will receive their reduction.
| Dates | Local authority |
| 7 November | Fareham |
| 14 November | Chichester, Mid Sussex |
| 21 November | Adur, Arun, Ashford, Dartford, Merton, Sevenoaks, Shepway, Tonbridge & Malling, Tunbridge Wells, Worthing |
| 28 November | Basingstoke & Deane, Bexley, Bromley, Maidstone, Reigate & Banstead |
| 5 December | Crawley, Swale |
| 12 December | Greenwich, Northampton |
| 19 December | Peterborough, Medway, Southampton, Southwark, Thurrock |
| 26 December | Croydon, Islington, Lewisham, Milton Keynes, Portsmouth |
| 2 January 2017 | Brighton & Hove, Lambeth |
| 23 January | Brent |
Am I affected by the cap?
Certain disabled people and carers are exempt from the cap.
You are not affected by the cap if you work and either you or your partner receive tax credits or take home more than £430 a month after tax.
Find out more
- Read about the updated cap figures at the gov.uk website.
- Review your benefit entitlement with our free online tools at Better Off.
- If you are affected by the cap and need money advice, or support to get into work you can contact us.
- Visit our welfare reform and benefits web page.