The amount of benefit you may receive depends on four basic things:
- The amount of money coming into the household
- The amount of any savings you (and your partner) have
- Your personal circumstances (such as your children living in your household, being disabled or anyone else who lives with you)
- The amount of rent charged
Benefit is assessed using rules agreed by Parliament. The benefit awarded to you is intended to help with the cost of your rent, not your living costs such as food and heating. The maximum rent that can be awarded is 100% of your eligible rent. This may not equal the rent you are being charged by your landlord.
Income
Any earnings you (and your partner) receive are added to any other income you have. Earnings are:
- Gross pay less tax, national insurance contributions and half of any amount paid to a private or occupational pension scheme.
- Certain childcare costs may also be deducted
- Self employed earnings after any allowable business expenses are deducted
Other income includes:
- Money received for an occupational pension, social security benefit or pension
- Income from Disability Living Allowance or Attendance Allowance that you (or your partner) receive is disregarded but should still be declared on your rebate application form as, in certain circumstances, it may mean you receive a higher rate of housing benefit.
Savings
We do not count the first £6000 of savings, but you still have to tell us about your savings and bank accounts even if they are under £6000.
If you have savings over these amounts then your benefit will be reduced. Please Contact Us if you wish to find out how this will effect your benefit.
Personal Circumstances
Each year Parliament sets amounts we use to work out benefit calculations. These are called personal allowances and premiums.
Personal allowances depend upon:
- Your age
- Whether you are single or have a partner
- Any dependent children you may have and their ages
Premiums are extra sums of money intended to recognise the special needs of:
- Families
- Elderly people
- Disabled people and people who care for a disabled person
- Lone parent families
- People who have been sick for over 52 weeks or 28 weeks if they are terminally ill
We will calculate your benefit based on your total household income (minus any disregards) compared to your total personal allowances and premiums. If you total income is less than this amount, you will receive maximum benefit entitlement, however if it is more your benefit will be reduced.
If you wish to discuss any of this information with us, our details are shown on the contact us page
