If you have just lost a job you held for a year, Universal Credit may give you a 9-month grace period before the cap applies.
Quick facts
- Couple or single parent, outside London
- £423.46 a week
- Single adult, outside London
- £283.71 a week
- Couple or single parent, London
- £486.98 a week
- Single adult, London
- £326.29 a week
- UC earnings exemption
- £881 a month
How much the cap is
Outside Greater London:
- If you’re in a couple: £423.46 a week (£1,835 a month)
- If you’re a single parent and your children live with you: £423.46 a week (£1,835 a month)
- If you’re a single adult: £283.71 a week (£1,229.42 a month)
Inside Greater London:
- If you’re in a couple: £486.98 a week (£2,110.25 a month)
- If you’re a single parent and your children live with you: £486.98 a week (£2,110.25 a month)
- If you’re a single adult: £326.29 a week (£1,413.92 a month)
Who is not affected
You’re not affected by the cap if you or your partner:
- get Universal Credit because of a disability or health condition that stops you from working (this is called ‘limited capability for work and work-related activity’)
- get Universal Credit because you care for someone with a disability
- get Universal Credit and you and your partner earn £881 or more a month combined, after tax and National Insurance contributions
You’re also not affected by the cap if you, your partner or any children under 18 living with you gets Attendance Allowance, Carer’s Allowance, Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Guardian’s Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance (if you get the support component), Industrial Injuries Benefits, war pensions or a War Widow’s or War Widower’s Pension.
The 9-month grace period
The benefit cap might not affect your Universal Credit payments for up to 9 months. This is called the ‘grace period’.
You need to report your last 12 months’ earnings when you apply for Universal Credit to get the grace period.
Help if you are capped
If you need help paying your rent or a rent deposit, contact your local council. In England it can check if you’re eligible for its Crisis and Resilience Fund.
Common questions
How much is the benefit cap in 2026?
Outside London, £423.46 a week for couples and single parents and £283.71 for single adults. In London, £486.98 and £326.29.
Who is exempt from the benefit cap?
Anyone over State Pension age, households getting disability or carer benefits such as PIP, DLA, Attendance Allowance or Carer’s Allowance, and UC households earning £881 a month.
Does working get me out of the cap?
On Universal Credit, yes, if you and your partner earn £881 or more a month combined after tax.
Is there a grace period?
Up to 9 months on Universal Credit if you earned at least the threshold in each of the previous 12 months.