Housing benefit/council tax benefit confusion

ChelseaBx

Hi,

I'm after a bit of advice as each website that I go on seems to give me conflicting answers. I'm trying to see if I'm eligible for any housing benefit to go towards my rent or any council tax benefit.

My circumstances are as follows:

18yo, permanently employed (although currently on maternity leave until July) earning 17800pa and receiving £92pw in tax credits plus £20pw child benefit. Single parent to my daughter who is now 6 weeks old. I'm not receiving any other benefits (i.e disability).

I private rent a 1 bedroom flat (£450pcm) but I'm hoping to move to a 2 bedroom within a few months, which will inevitably be more expensive.

Is housing benefit awarded depending on how much rent you pay or is it a set fee regardless of what rent you pay. I.e would it be the same on a £450 house as it would on a £550 house?

Each time I do a calculator I'm given different answers - some say I'm entitled, others say that I'm not.

Any help would be appreciated.

TIA - Chelsea

HappyMJ

The maximum rent taken into account is based on the LHA rate for your area. https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/search.aspx

zzzLazyDaisy

Each area has a maximum amount of LHA (local housing allowance, formerly HB) that they will pay for your circumstances. If the rent is actually lower than the maximum, then the rent is the maximum you can get.

There used to be a rule that if your rent was less than your LHA, you could keep the difference, but that rule was abolished, so be careful not to read old websites.

ChelseaBx

Thanks for the replies - I'm not sure if I'm even entitled to housing benefit as I've done several calculators that say different things

ChelseaBx

Bumping to see if anybody else can help

zzzLazyDaisy

Try it this way....

First go to your local authority website and check the maximum LHA for two bedroomed houses in your area.

Then go to turn2us and input all your details. For rent use the LHA maximum, unless your rent is going to be less than that, in which case use the actual rent. This should give you a good indication of what you are entitled to.

If you continue to be confused, it is worth a trip to the CAB as they can do the calculation for you, and check that you are not missing out on anything.

Hope this helps, and congratulations on your little girl!

Teahfc

You forgot to mention you also will have funds coming in from the child's father which will ease your finances a little more.

zzzLazyDaisy

Teahfc wrote: »

You forgot to mention you also will have funds coming in from the child's father which will ease your finances a little more.

Not everyone gets maintenance from the father, for a variety of reasons. But in any case, child maintenance is disregarded for LHA/CTB purposes, so is not relevant to OP's question.

princessdon

We really need to know if you get your wage on Mat Leave or if you earn less / have a lowered rate I am assuming you do as your CTC are high.