Changes to benefits for people of working age (including unemployment, in work, sickness benefits, bereavement benefits and the benefit cap)

The benefit cap
Benefits relating to ill health
Benefits relating to Jobseekers
Work related requirements
Bereavement benefits

The benefit cap

The government limits the total household benefits that working age families can receive. This is called the benefit cap. It only applies to certain benefits and some people are exempt.

Here are the details of the cap and more support

This information sheet Benefit cap – ways to help you improve your financial situation (237kb) includes more details about the cap, some of the exemptions and many things you can do to improve your financial situation

Benefits relating to ill health

In addition to the following changes, see our webpage on Universal Credit

Work related requirements

More details on the Citizens Advice Website Look in the AZ for 'sanctions', 'jobseekers agreement' and the 'claimant commitment'.

Also see our sheet on 'sanctions and how to avoid them' which is available on our benefit information page

More details on these changes in our benefit bulletins

Further help

What can I do if I'm affected by these changes?

Bereavement Benefits

Bereavement Support Payment replaced Bereavement Benefits for those bereaved from 6 April 2017. It is available to people up to State Pension age consisting of a lump sum and will last for 18 months. In addition, the new payment will not be taxed, and will be disregarded by means-tested benefits and the benefit cap.

For a comprehensive list of benefit changes see our 'timeline of benefit changes' on our changes to the benefits system page