Benefit cap, is this correct and how are people meant to survive

JanePS

Hello,

I had my universal credit statement today and it has this on it, is it correct?

Isn't the UC amounts what they say you need to live on, how can they just take it away? I can't even pay my rent. Where does this £1224 go that they have taken off of me?

This is really the last thing I needed this month. I don't know what to do.

JanePS

sorry the picture is much larger than I intended

luvpink

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1127178#Comment_1127178

Hi welcome to the community.

It says they have taken nothing off your universal credit because you have nothing in savings.

Have you checked the payment due in your bank account?

JanePS

sorry I mean this bit here where they have taken off over £1200 for the benefit cap

Kimi87

There is a guide to the benefit cap here:

https://www.gov.uk/benefit-cap

Would you be able to post your full statement- with any names & personal details blacked out?

Someone might be able to understand and advise around what's happened.

JanePS

They're paying me £1583.07 which obviously I'm very grateful for but my rent is nearly £1800 a month alone, how am I meant to pay it, let alone bills or anything else? I don't understand how all this works.

This is what my statement says:

Your payment this month: £1583.07

Standard allowance - £424.90

Children - £665.82

Housing - £1774.14

Total entitlement before deductions: £2864.86

What we've taken off (deductions):

Benefit cap: -£1224.64

Advance payment: -£57.15

Kimi87

I'd recommend contacting a local welfare rights organisation to see a trained benefits advisor, knowing your full circumstances they can check your UC award is correct & look at anything else you might be entitled too, such as a temporary payment to meet your rent via what's now known as the Crisis & Resilience Fund.

They can also give advice on looking for a more affordable rental property including applying for social housing as you might not be able to afford to stay where you are long term if your income doesn't increase.

https://advicefinder.turn2us.org.uk/

JanePS

Thank you so do you think the benefit cap is a mistake? Is there a way for them to remove it? I don't know how I'm going to pay for anything this month.

Kimi87

The benefit cap does correctly apply to UC awards of many working age people.

A local welfare rights organisation will be able to advise you better knowing your full circumstances.

Unfortunately even if it isn't correct, Housing Element is capped for private rentals (aside from the general benefit cap) which means a maximum Housing Element amount will apply to your claim leaving you with a shortfall to make up elsewhere.

https://www.gov.uk/housing-and-universal-credit/renting-from-private-landlor

justsaying2025

If you follow the link to .gov it does go into detail about the benefit cap and any exceptions. If you're working (£881 income I think) then that would be an exemption. There are others but take a look at the information via the link as it goes into great detail.

If the cap has been applied correctly there's no discretion to remove it. None whatsoever.

As a previous poster suggested I would check on turn2us to see if you are claiming for everything possible. There may also be some grants you are entitled to which their checker will display if applicable.

StarryEyed

Hi @JanePS and welcome to the forum. I'm sorry you've been hit so hard and really hope you can find assistance to sort this out. I've been there too, at rock bottom, not being able to make ends meet - when it's literally impossible to make ends meet. I hope you keep reaching out for help and that somehow you can crawl out of this mess. 🙏🏼❤️

JanePS

Thank you all.

I have CP and I do work but only part time earning about £5-600 a month, if I have to earn more to lift the cap I will try but it's difficult. Is it £881 exactly?

It's my first time claiming anything because my husband was the breadwinner, I only worked a few hours that I can manage around our children being at school.

I never thought I would find myself needing to claim and it has been very difficult navigating the system, he used to handle all of our finances and paperwork.

I truly don't know what I will do this month, I can't even work this week because our children are home from school. I'm trying to stay positive for them but it's so difficult even without the money worries. @StarryEyed, it really does feel like rock bottom right now.

oldmanmarple

I dont know why my posts keep getting removed working does remove the cap, her statement says nothing about disability or sickness so if she wants more money she will need to work

OverlyAnxious

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1127737#Comment_1127737

Hi,

Yes it is £881 exactly, after tax and NI contributions.

The cap would be lifted if you got LCWRA due to disability. As you are earning less than £200 a week, you can be put in for the Work Capability Assessment while still working. In order to start this process you should make a change of circumstances and add health conditions to your UC claim. You will need a Fit Note from a GP to confirm those conditions.

You could look into PIP if your CP functionally restricts you day to day. A PIP award would also lift the cap. Bear in mind that PIP isn't a quick process though.

In the short term, you may have to look into local food banks or ask friends or relatives for help if at all possible.

WhatThe

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1127752#Comment_1127752

Because this is a disability forum for people with disabilities.

JanePS Community Member Posts: 13 Connected11:43AM

Thank you all.

I have CP and I do work but only part time earning about £5-600 a month, if I have to earn more to lift the cap I will try but it's difficult. Is it £881 exactly?

It's my first time claiming anything because my husband was the breadwinner, I only worked a few hours that I can manage around our children being at school.

I never thought I would find myself needing to claim and it has been very difficult navigating the system, he used to handle all of our finances and paperwork.

I truly don't know what I will do this month, I can't even work this week because our children are home from school.

Holly_Scope

Hi @JanePS I'm so sorry to hear about your circumstances and how stressful that must be for you. I agree with Kimi in that it might be best to speak with a benefits advisor at somewhere like Citizens Advice who can look through your situation in full and what area's you might be missing funds etc.

You could also look at contacting your local council for a crisis loan but I'd also suggest making your landlord aware of the circumstances as soon as possible as they too, might offer a payment plan over a period of time to support you at least for this month's rent whilst you gain support.

I've also found this Shelter site which has a number of additional links for support with costs, including other items such as food and bills which might help ease the pressure a bit - Emergency grants, loans and money help - Shelter.

Emilee

@JanePS, after the end of your first assessment period, were you asked to supply your earnings for the last 12 months?

If so, did you include your husband's earnings? If he earned over £881 a month, each month, for the last 12 months, you could be entitled to a grace period from the benefit cap.

StarryEyed

@JanePS you seem to speak of your husband in the past tense. Has he left/passed?

The thing about a crisis is we are typically forced to ask for help, like you're doing here, because we don't know what to do. Typically because we don't know what to do, we're in crisis. In asking for help, people shine in giving help, which is awesome. And we ourselves are forced to think outside the box to come up with ideas - that saying 'Necessity is the mother of invention.' So you might well surprise yourself as to how you step up to bat and also shine in this crisis. That's the flip side of crisis in my experience and in others I've seen in crisis. I bear that in mind now when in crisis, and it softens the crisis. Perhaps thinking of that undercurrent may also help you get through this crisis? And of course the crisis doesn't always work out. I hope it works out for you and that you see others and yourself shine.