The overall benefit cap was introduced between April and September 2013. It limits the amount of most welfare benefits that a single household can recieve. Currently, the limit is set at £26,000 per year for couples, with or without children, and single parents. As part of the summer budget 2015, government announced that this will be lowered to £23,000 in London and to £20,000 elsewhere in Great Britain. This lower limit is due to be introduced from 7 November 2016.

This report summarises CIH's analysis of the likely impact of the new lower cap, including the numbers and types of households who will be affected and the amounts of income that they are likely to lose as a result.