Benefit cap exemption because of a disability or caring award
You are not affected by the benefit cap if you, your partner or a child gets certain disability or carer benefits.
What you get
If the exemption applies, the benefit cap is not applied to your Universal Credit or Housing Benefit. The cap itself, where it does apply in 2026 to 2027, remains £25,323 a year for couples or lone parents in Greater London and £16,967 for single adults without children in Greater London; or £22,020 and £14,753 in the rest of Great Britain. As of 6 April 2026, from the official DWP rates and GOV.UK ‘when you’re not affected’.
Who can get it
You are not affected if you are over State Pension age (with a couple rule if one of you is under). You are not affected if you or your partner get Universal Credit LCWRA, get Universal Credit because you care for someone with a disability, or you and your partner earn £881 or more a month combined after tax and National Insurance. You are also not affected if you, your partner or any child under 18 living with you gets any of a listed set of benefits, including PIP, ADP, DLA, Child Disability Payment, Attendance Allowance, Pension Age Disability Payment, Scottish Adult DLA, Carer’s Allowance, Carer Support Payment, ESA support component, and several industrial injuries or war payments. Northern Ireland has its own benefit cap rules on nidirect.
How to apply
If a cap has been applied in error, report it in your Universal Credit journal or to the office that pays Housing Benefit, and get advice if needed. You do not make a separate ‘exemption claim’ if a qualifying benefit is already on the claim.