Financial assessment
Housing and council tax benefit is assessed by comparing your income with an amount set by the government for your day-to-day living expenses; this is called an 'applicable amount'.
If you are getting Income Support, Income Based Jobseeker's Allowance or the Guaranteed Element of Pension Credit, you will normally get all of your eligible weekly rent paid by housing benefit, and all of your council tax paid by council tax benefit. This is the maximum amount we can pay you. Other household members can have an affect on your claim. You may get less than the maximum amount if you have any non-dependants sharing your home.
If you do not get Income Support, Income Based Jobseeker's Allowance or Guaranteed Pension Credit we compare your weekly income, including any added amount for your capital, with your applicable amount.
The applicable amount is different for every person. It depends, for example, on your age; whether or not you have a partner or children; or if someone in your household is disabled. It is made up of personal allowances, for general needs, and premiums, for special needs. Your applicable amount, and how it has been calculated, is shown on your decision letter.
If your weekly income is less than, or the same as your applicable amount, we pay the maximum benefit, less amounts for any non-dependants.
If your weekly income is more than your applicable amount we take 65p off your maximum housing benefit, and 20p off your maximum council tax benefit for each £1 your income is more than your applicable amount.
Whilst the minimum housing benefit payable is 50p per week, there is no minimum council tax benefit.
