How is Housing Benefit Calculated?

lucy_w86

Can anyone tell me how it's calculated?

Breast_Cancer_Survivor

lucy_w86 wrote: »

Can anyone tell me how it's calculated?

They set rates according to where you live, how many people live in the home, your age but it also depends on your income whether you get that rate or lower.

You can get an idea of your local rate here.

https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/Secure/LHARateSearch.aspx?SearchType=PostCode

lucy_w86

Breast_Cancer_Survivor wrote: »

They set rates according to where you live, how many people live in the home, your age but it also depends on your income whether you get that rate or lower.

You can get an idea of your local rate here.

https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/Secure/LHARateSearch.aspx?SearchType=PostCode

Thanks

How do they calculate how much help you get within that rate?

Jowo_2

lucy_w86 wrote: »

How do they calculate how much help you get within that rate?

The LHA Direct website indicates the MAXIMUM payable according to household size, sex/age of dependents, for example.

As per the previous post, income is taken into account which could reduce it.

This can be identified by putting in all the details into an online benefit calculator, like the one at the Turn2us website.

zagfles

lucy_w86 wrote: »

Thanks

How do they calculate how much help you get within that rate?

First off there's a figure called the "applicable amount". This depends on family eg single/couple/kids, any disabilites etc, and age (it's a LOT higher if you're over 60). It represents what the government think you need to live on before rent. It's usually the same as what you'd get in IS/JSA plus child tax credit & child benefit.

The AA is subtracted from your income and a taper of 65% is applied.

eg LHA max rate £150 a week, income £300 a week, AA £200 a week.
Taper of 65% of the £100 excess income over AA ie £65 is subtracted from max LHA/HB amount of £150 so you'd get £85. There are also disgregards in income which again depend on family composition.

The CPAG do a poster which summarises the rates:

http://www.cpag.org.uk/publications/extracts/benefit_rates_poster_2010.pdf