How can I work out how much Benefit I will get?
If you are a
private tenant in receipt of Local Housing Allowance the amount used to work out your benefit will depend on how many people are in your household and the number of rooms you need. The amount of rent you pay or the size of the property you rent does not affect how much benefit you get.
The following things are considered when working out your Local Housing Allowance rate:
- How many people live with you in your home
- How they are related to you
- Whether they are children or adults and if they are children what age and sex they are.
- Whether you are single and under 25 years of age or living in shared accommodation.
The Local Housing Allowance rates are published on a monthly basis and may change from time to time. The rates are published on our website and are updated each month.
Please use this link to view the Local Housing Allowance Rates from April 2009 onwards.Please remember if your Local Housing Allowance rate is more than your rent, the maximum amount of benefit you can get is your rent plus £15.
To view Local Housing Allowance rates prior to April 2009.
If you are a
Council or Housing Association tenant we use the amount of rent you are charged to calculate the amount of benefit you receive.
If you are a
Hostel or Board and Lodge tenant your claim will be referred to the Rent Service who will advise us of the amount of rent we should use when calculating your benefit. The amount of rent you pay or the size of the property you rent does not affect the Rent Officer’s decision.
Once we have worked out an amount to calculate your benefit on as explained above we will then look at how much income you get to decide whether or not you are entitled to full benefit.
Please use this link to see our leaflet 'Will I Qualify?'