The Benefit Cap (Annual Limit) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023 - screening

There is a limit on the total amount of benefit that working age people can get. This is called the Benefit Cap. The Benefit Cap can be applied through Housing Benefit (HB) and Universal Credit (UC).

The policy intent behind the Benefit Cap is to achieve long term positive behavioural effects through changed attitudes to welfare, responsible life choices and strong work incentives. The Benefit Cap’s principal aims are to encourage people in to work, to promote fairness between those in work and those on ‘out of work’ benefits and to deliver fiscal savings. The cap sets a clear limit to what people can expect to get from the benefits system when they are not working. There is protection for the most vulnerable, as those who are caring or are severely disabled are exempt from the Benefit Cap.