What are the Local Housing Allowance rates and do they ever change?
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 updated each month.
You will receive the Local Housing Allowance rate applicable to the month in which your claim starts. This rate will apply for 12 months after which it will be reviewed unless there is a change of circumstance mid year such as:
- a change of address
- a break in entitlement of one week or more
- a change to household that would affect their LHA rate i.e. Non dependent moving in
If the LHA rate has changed for the month in which the review takes place you will start to receive the new revised rate.
Please note a rent increase is not a change of circumstance that will trigger a review of the LHA rate in payment.
Please use this link to view the current Local Housing Allowance rates.
If you make a new claim for Housing Benefit after the 1st April 2011 and the rent you are charged is less than the Local Housing rate that applies to you, the maximum amount of benefit you can possibly receive is the amount of rent you are charged.
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