Get Connected Spring 2017

MONEY
MATTERS
MONEY
MATTERS
Affected by the
benefit cap?
About
the service
Money Matters is a free
and confidential service
that provides:
Help with welfare reform
and benefits
Budgeting and debt advice
Ways of reducing fuel
costs and improving
energy efficiency
Digital skills training
Help creating CVs, job
searching, volunteer
and apprenticeship
opportunities
Health and wellbeing
support
We’re here to help
The benefit cap is a government policy that
restricts the total amount a household will be
able to claim in benefits. The cap only applies
to people of working age and does not affect
people of pension credit age.
The first cap was applied in April 2013 and the new
lower cap was rolled out between 7th November 2016
and 30th January 2017. In some cases, families will
see a reduction of their entire Housing Benefit award,
leaving them with just 50p.
What are the rates?
£384.62
Couple, with or
without children
£384.62
Single parent family
(children living with you)
£257.69
Single person
v
Which benefits are included in the cap?
• Bereavement Allowance
• Child Benefit
• Child Tax Credit
• Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) –
Assessment or Work Related Activity Group
• Housing Benefit (unless you live in
supported/‘specified’ accommodation)
• Income Support
• Job Seeker’s Allowance
• Maternity Allowance
• Widowed Parent’s Allowance
• Widowed Mother’s Allowance
• Widow’s Pension
• Universal Credit
Are any benefits excluded from the cap?
You should be excluded from the cap if you or
your partner receive any of the following:
• Pension Credit
• Working Tax Credit
• Support component of ESA
• Industrial Injuries Benefits
• War Disablement Pension/Armed Forces
Compensation Scheme
• War Widow’s/War Widower’s Pension
• Carer’s Allowance*
• Guardian’s Allowance*
You should be excluded from the cap if you or a
dependent family member receive any of the following:
• Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• Attendance Allowance or Constant
Attendance Allowance
• Armed Forces Independence Payment
*Before 7th November 2016 these benefits were included in the cap.
Get in touch ›››
If you are concerned about how the benefit
cap will affect you please contact:
Michelle Cox,
Money Matters Team
T: 0300 5000 600
E: moneymatters@
connecthousing.org.uk
What to do if you
can’t afford your
rent shortfall
CHECK
Make sure that the
benefit cap has been
applied correctly. A lot
of errors are being made.
It is important that you
check whether any of the
exclusions apply to you.
APPLY
Some people don’t realise
they are entitled to certain
benefits (particularly PIP
and DLA) that exclude
them from the benefit
cap. Make sure you apply
for any benefits you are
entitled to. You may be
entitled to Discretionary
Housing Payments (DHP)
to help you cover the
shortfall and we can help
you apply.
LOOK
Take a look at your income
and outgoings. Can you
make any savings that
would help you pay the
rent shortfall? We can
help you look at this if
you’re struggling.
4 FIND
The cap doesn’t apply to
people who are working
enough hours to receive
working tax credits.
Finding suitable work
will stop the cap being
applied. We can help
with your job search.
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