UC cap wrongly applied?

[Vjjeiknmiw6377]

I am a newly single parent with a child under 2, meaning I am not expected to be working yet (I am looking for suitable work though) and have been receiving UC for the last 7 months. This month my statement shows nearly £100 deducted due to the benefits cap. However this has never applied before and after looking it up, I haven't reached the amount for the cap to be applied.
Has anyone else experienced this and managed to get it corrected. I have sent a message on my account to state I believe it is incorrect. I barely scrape by as it is, so this is a stress I don't need right before Christmas

Cap includes child benefit as well ...rarely its wrong

What did you do before having your child? Why didn't you go back to work then?

How much is your total UC entitlement before deductions? Do you live in Greater London

You get a grace period of 9 months so that will be why you haven't seen it before.
Where are you and what is your total amount of benefits including child benefit.
It's relatively unusual for benefit claimants with only one child to be capped but if your rent/LHA is high then not inconceivable.

I haven't worked for a few years, since my older child was born, as agreed between myself and husband that it was a better choice to be at home with the kids. Hes since left and I'm just trying to manage the best I can.
I'm outside London so the benefits cap is £1835, I receive less than this by about 300

@Vjjeiknmiw6377 at a guess it's (a) you've got to the end of a grace period and (b) child benefit counts towards the cap.

Now the 2 child limit has gone I hope the cap is next in the frame.

Do you think that comment is in any way helpful or constructive?

She's got a child under 2; not required to look for work but still caught by the cap.

If it's catching people with 2 kids and LHA level rent it's pitched way too low.

Thank you. I'm not a lazy person, just trying to the best by my children in the circumstances I've found myself in. I used to have a 'proper job' but I'll now be happy to do anything that fits around my children but it's super competitive for those hours (understandably)
Perhaps it is just that I've reached the end of a grace period... although why they wouldn't make me aware this is even a thing, I don't know 😂

How long have you been on UC? When you first make the claim it asks for earnings for you and your ex partner for the past nine months and this is to see if you can be exempt form the cap.