Benefits capped for 1,200 households in Northern Ireland
Date published:
New official statistics in development published on 27/08/2025 by NISRA statisticians in the Department for Communities reveal that 1,200 households in Northern Ireland have had their benefits capped in May 2025. This represents an increase of 7% from 1,130 households in May 2024.
The benefit cap was introduced in Northern Ireland on 31 May 2016, and is a limit on the total amount of benefit that working age people can receive.
From March 2020 the number of capped households increased notably in parallel with the overall increase in the Universal Credit (UC) caseload due to the COVID-19 pandemic before returning to a general decline from August 2021.
Key Findings:
- 1,200 households had their Universal Credit (UC) award capped, and 0 households had their Housing Benefit (HB) award capped. These represent less than 1% of households.
- The average amount capped was £51 per week.
- 1,130 individuals had their Benefit Cap reduction mitigated via a Welfare Supplementary Payment (WSP). Of these, 1,130 (100%) were UC Benefit Cap administrative WSPs.
About the Publication:
This publication contains official statistics undergoing development on the number of capped households in Northern Ireland since the introduction of the Benefit Cap. It provides a range of household breakdowns including the amount capped, number of children, family type and geographical area.
This publication also contains statistics on the number of individuals receiving a Benefit Cap WSP.
Further Information:
For the full HTML version report please visit: Benefit Cap Publication
For the publication page and associated documents and tables please visit: Benefit Cap Statistics - May 2025 | Department for Communities