Welfare Reform Team

The Welfare Reform Team works within the Benefits Service at Wandsworth Council. It supports households affected by the benefit cap to explore the options available to them.

If you are affected by the benefit cap or have received notification that your housing benefit entitlement has reduced as a result of the cap, please contact a Welfare Reform Officer.

Caps from November 2016

From November 2016 the cap will be reduced to a maximum of £23,000 a year and depend on where you live in the UK. Wandsworth is a Greater London borough.

Inside Greater London:

If you live in a Greater London borough, the cap will be:

• £442.31 per week (£23,000 per year) if you're in a couple, whether your children live with you or not
• £442.31 per week (£23,000 per year) if you're single and your children live with you
• £296.35 per week (£15,410 per year) if you're single and you don't have children, or your children don't live with you

Any amount above the cap figure will be deducted from weekly Housing Benefit

Outside Greater London:

If you live outside a Greater London borough, the cap will be:

• £384.62 per week (£20,000 per year) if you're in a couple, whether your children live with you or not
• £384.62 per week (£20,000 per year) if you're single and your children live with you
• £257.69 per week (£13,400 per year) if you're single and you don't have children, or your children don't live with you

How the Benefit cap is calculated:

The cap is based on the total amount of out of work benefits.

Use the Government calculator to see if you may be affected and check the benefits included within the cap.

Please contact a Welfare Reform Officer to make an appointment to discuss your situation and what action you can take to avoid rent arrears.