The amount of Housing Benefit you are entitled to will depend on:

  • How many children you have and their ages (called dependants)
  • If you have a partner
  • How many other adults live in your house and their income (called non-dependants)
  • If you have sub tenants/lodgers living in your house and how much rent they pay you
  • How much income and savings you and/or your partner have
  • If anyone in your household is sick or disabled
  • If you and/or your partner are a full time carer
  • If you or your partner need someone to stay to provide regular overnight care (and there is an extra bedroom for them to use)
  • How many bedrooms in your house
  • How much rent you pay
  • If your rent includes fuel bills, meals or water charges

The exact amount can only be worked out after considering all the circumstances of each individual claim. You can use the Benefits Calculator to estimate the amount to which you may be entitled.

Local Housing Allowance (LHA):

Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates are used to calculate Housing Benefit for tenants renting from private landlords. It does not apply to anyone renting from the Council or a Housing Association. You can check the LHA rate for your area.

Under Occupation:

If you rent from the Council or a Housing Association your Housing Benefit could be reduced if you have more bedrooms than your household needs. The reduction is:

  • 14% of the rent we use to calculate your benefit for 1 spare bedroom
  • 25% of the rent we use to calculate your benefit for 2 or more spare bedrooms

The rules allow one bedroom for:

  • Each adult couple
  • Any other person aged 16 or over
  • Two children of the same gender under the age of 16
  • Two children under 10 (regardless of gender)
  • Any other child
  • Children who can't share because of a disability or medical condition
  • A non resident overnight carer for you or your partner (but only if they must stay overnight)
  • A foster carer who uses a spare room for the foster child

Benefit Cap:

There is a limit on the total amount of benefit that most people of working age can get. For more information please check the benefit cap guidance.