Number of benefit capped households at May 2021 remained more than twice the pre-pandemic level

New DWP statistics highlight that 190,000 households were subject to the cap, with 33,000 newly capped in the preceding three months

New DWP statistics show that 190,000 households had their benefit capped at May 2021.

In Benefit cap: number of households capped to May 2021, published today, the DWP reports that the total number of capped households decreased slightly in the latest quarter to stand at 190,000, down 5 per cent (9,600 households) on the previous quarter at February 2021. However, the statistics also show that the total still remains more than twice the figure in the period immediately prior to the Covid-19 outbreak, when around 75,000 households were capped.

In addition, the figures show that -

• the number of capped households on universal credit decreased by 7,300 to 170,000 in the quarter to May 2021;
• the number of capped households on housing benefit continued to decrease, falling to 22,000 households at May 2021 from its peak of 66,000 households in February 2017 following the change to the current cap levels;
• 33,000 households were newly capped in the quarter, 10,000 (24 per cent) fewer than the previous quarter but more than double the number in the period immediately before the Covid-19 pandemic; and
• more than half a million households (530,000) have been capped at some point between April 2013 when the cap was introduced and May 2021.

For more information, see Benefit cap: number of households capped to May 2021 from gov.uk