How we work out your benefit
If you are renting from a private landlord and after 07 April 2008
- have made a new claim for benefit or
- changed address or
- reclaimed benefit after a gap of at least a week
Your Housing Benefit claim will be assessed based on your maximum Local Housing Allowance rates.
If you are
- an owner occupier or
- a council tenant or
- rent from a registered social landlord such as a housing association or charity or
- live in bed and breakfast accommodation or
- in a mobile home
- rent from a private landlord but your claim has been in payment since before 07 April 2008.
Your Housing Benefit claim will be assessed based on your eligible rent. Your Council Tax Benefit claim will be assessed based on your council tax bill.
How we work out your benefit
Housing and Council Tax Benefit is assessed by comparing your income with an amount set by the government. This is for your day-to-day living expenses and is called an Applicable Amount.
If you are getting Income Support, Income Based Jobseekers Allowance or Guarantee Pension Credit, you will normally get all of your Local Housing Allowance or eligible rent paid by Housing Benefit. You will normally also get 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 Jobseekers Allowance or Guarantee 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 will pay the maximum benefit. This will be reduced if you have any Non-dependants living with you. 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.
