How your benefit is worked out
If you get Income Support, Income-based Jobseekers Allowance or
Pension Credit (Guaranteed Credit), you will get Housing Benefit to
cover all of your rent less any rent
restrictions and non dependant deductions. You will get maximum
Council Tax less any non dependant
deductions if you are liable for Council Tax.
If you are on a low income we will calculate a weekly income
from all the income you tell us you have. If you have any savings
over £6,000 we will assume you also have an income from your
savings. We will compare this income to the amount the government
says you and your family need to live on - your 'applicable
amount'. This amount will be higher for some people e.g. if you are
disabled or a one parent family.
If your weekly income is less than, or the same as your
'Applicable Amount', you will get the full amount of Housing
Benefit. If this happens you should claim Income Support, or if you
are 60 years of age or more Pension Credit, as you may get more
help.
If your weekly income is more than your Applicable Amount the
income over your Applicable Amount is called 'Excess Income' . You
will be paid Housing Benefit equal to the weekly 'Eligible Rent'
less 65% of the weekly Excess Income figure and less any non
dependant deductions.
Eligible Rent is the amount of rent that you are charged after
any Rent Restriction and deduction for Ineligible Services has been
applied to it.
In respect of Council Tax Benefit the amount will be your weekly
Council Tax less 20% of the weekly Excess Income figure less any
non-dependant deductions.
How much benefit will we pay?
Rent: The most we will pay is 100% of the
eligible rent. Your eligible rent is the amount that is considered
fair for your property and circumstances. We do not pay for
personal service charges, such as water rates, fuel, gardening
charges and meals you are provided with, but communal lighting,
heating etc are eligible.
Council Tax: The most we will pay is 100% of
your eligible Council Tax, this means your Council Tax less any
discounts you are getting.