Universal credit

[itsmee12]

Hi all just a quick one, since going from a single claim to a join claim with 2 children iv recently been hit with the benefit cap of £235. Iv contacted my work coach about this and they are saying its because im receiving child benefit that’s why im being capped every month? Is this the case as iv never heard of been capped because I receive child benefit. I also know a few friends who have 2 children on a joint claim but they don’t get capped. If this isn’t the case would it be worth me going a mandatory reconsideration or would this stop my claim until its been decided im due my payment on the 3rd but I don’t wanna risk of not been paid because I have 2 children. Has anyone else had this before or what’s the best thing to do
thanks x

I googled this. It said the benefit cap is a limit on the amount of benefits a household can receive. Child benefit is taken into consideration when calculating this. So seems like it is. The people you know that aren't being capped probably receive less benefit than you. The system is far far too complicated.

As above, the Cap is a limit on the amount you can receive in benefits. CB is amongst the benefits that count:

https://www.turn2us.org.uk/get-support/information-for-your-situation/benefit-cap/what-is-the-benefit-cap

The cap is disapplied if one/both of you are working and have sufficient earnings or if one of you has Limited Capability for work or receives PIP or if a child has DLA.

Do you work? Apart from being a carer or having a disabled child the only way to lift the cap is to work.

It goes if you have Limited Capability for Work Related Activity (but not, as I incorrectly stated earlier) LCfW only.

As others have said the cap includes all benefits, so UC and child benefit. I lost money to the benefit cap when both my dc were under 18.

If you know others who aren't then they are either under the benefit cap anyway, maybe they get less housing allowance. Or the cap doesn't apply due to earnings/disability.

Yeah I forgot that.

If at least one of you is working then that should be enough to lift the cap. Are neither of you working?

For how long you are on UC? First 9 months are grace period they do not cap universal credit.
You need to check your grace period if the joint claim is new, you are in Grace period.