A NEW cap on benefits for unemployed households has come into effect today.

The cap will affect 64,000 new households and the GMB union has called it a “monstrous new assault” on single mothers and their children.

Below are more details on the cap and how it might affect you.

The cap applies to the total amount people in one household get from the following benefits:

Bereavement allowance
Care’s allowance (this won’t be affected by the benefit cap from 7 November 2016)
Child benefit
Child tax credit

Employment and support allowance (unless you get the ‘support’ component)

Guardian’s allowance (this won’t be affected by the benefit cap from 7 November 2016)

Housing Benefit
Incapacity Benefit
Income Support
Jobseeker’s Allowance
Maternity Allowance
Severe Diasblement Allowance

Widowed Parent’s Allowance (or Widowed Mother’s Allowance or Widows Pension if you started getting it before 9 April 2001)
Universal Credit (unless you’ve had a work capability assessment and aren’t fit for work)

If you live outside Greater London the new benefits cap will be:
384.62 per week if you’re in a couple and whether your children live with you or not
384.62 per week if you’re single and your children live with you
257.69 per week if you’re single and you don’t have children, or your children don’t live with you