The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has issued a warning to benefits claimants over benefit caps for 2026/27. The DWP has set out its benefit cap rates for the forthcoming tax year, after it began last week.

The amount you get through the benefit cap depends on whetheryou live inside or outside Greater London, you’re single or in a couple or your children live with you (if you’re single).

If you’re in a couple but you do not live together, you’ll get the amounts for a single person. If you’re outside Greater London and you are in a couple, you will receive £423.46 a week, or £1,835 a month.

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These figures are the same if you’re a single parent and a child lives with you. If you’re a single adult you’ll receive £283.71 a week or £1,229.42 a month.

The benefit cap inside London is hiked to £486.98 for single people and single parents with children living with them, which equates to £2,110.25 a month.

If you’re a single adult, you’ll get £326.29 a week or £1,413.92 a month. The benefit cap is a limit on the total amount of benefit you can get. It applies to most people aged 16 or over who have not reached State Pension age.

You might not be affected by the benefit cap if you get certain benefits or you’re over State Pension age.

If you’re claiming Universal Credit the benefit cap might not start for 9 months, depending on your earnings .You’re not affected by the cap if you’re over State Pension age.

The benefit cap affects 10 benefits:

Universal Credit

Bereavement Allowance

Child Benefit

Employment and Support Allowance

Housing Benefit

Incapacity Benefit

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Maternity Allowance

Severe Disablement Allowance

Widowed Parent’s Allowance (or Widowed Mother’s Allowance or Widow’s Pension if you started getting it before 9 April 2001)