How is Housing Benefit worked out?
To work out how much benefit we can pay you, we compare your 'income' to the amount that the Government states you need to live on. This is called your 'applicable amount'.
Your 'applicable amount' takes into account the size of your family, your age and any extra needs you may have.
To work out your 'income' we consider all the money you have coming in from earnings, social security benefits, maintenance payments and any other sources. We also make an adjustment for capital; this means your savings, investments and the value of any property or land owned, but not occupied, by you.
How much Housing Benefit will I get?
If you receive Income Support, income based Jobseeker's Allowance or Guarantee Pension Credit your benefit will be 100% of the Eligible Rent less:
- any reductions for non-dependants in your household (non-dependants are people who share your property but are not dependent on you for financial support, for example grown up sons and daughters or elderly relatives).
- if you have a private landlord, any reduction made because the Rent Officer has decided that your rent is unreasonably high or your accommodation is too large for your needs (see What does Housing Benefit cover?)
If you do not receive Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or Guarantee Pension Credit, the following rules apply:
If your weekly 'income' is below your 'applicable amount', your Housing Benefit is assessed in the same way as if you received Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or Guarantee Pension Credit.
If your weekly 'income' is above your 'applicable amount', your Housing Benefit will be 100% of your Eligible Rent less:
- 65p for every £1.00 that your 'income' exceeds your 'applicable amount'
- any reductions for non-dependants in your household (non-dependants are people who share your property but are not dependent on you for financial support, for example grown up sons and daughters or elderly relatives).
- if you have a private landlord, any reduction made because the Rent Officer has decided that your rent is unreasonably high or your accommodation is too large for your needs (see What does Housing Benefit cover?)
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