Breakdown of benefit money

iluvmarmite

I know when you get benefits on the letter it states the amount of money the law says you need to live on, is there anywhere I could find a break down on how they work it out, e.g. How much for food, gas, electic etc, I've looked for ages and can only find amounts they say you need but not how they arrive at these amounts.

missapril75

I believe the best you can do is to look at Housing Benefits information where rent includes other things like meals, heating and lighting.

They make standard deductions where the rent doesn't specify an amount. They're really not much of an accurate guide though.

iluvmarmite

Ok thankyou

rogerblack

It is not an arithmetically computed figure, but a politically computed one.
It rises and falls as governments of the day decide to increase it more or less.
It is simply 'the amount of money the law says you need to live on' because it's the amount of money they say you need to live on - no more or less than that.

lukieboy96

Would this still count now? What with bedroom tax and council tax, people will be worst off!!!

fluffymovie

Benefits increase each April in line with the RPI of the previous September and this means that the applicable amount (the amount of money they say you need to live on) does too.

As Rogerblack says, it is not related to actual food /energy costs

mysterywoman10

fluffymovie wrote: »

Benefits increase each April in line with the RPI of the previous September and this means that the applicable amount (the amount of money they say you need to live on) does too.

As Rogerblack says, it is not related to actual food /energy costs

We were discussing this on another thread and yes the way it is described is the way it is calculated.

But we also came to the conclusion that without CTC and CB that by paying in particular bedroom tax it would take you below the level that the government has already decided you do need to live on in comparison to someone else in the same situation that did not have the bedroom tax.

fluffymovie

mysterywoman10 wrote: »

We were discussing this on another thread and yes the way it is described is the way it is calculated.

But we also came to the conclusion that without CTC and CB that by paying in particular bedroom tax it would take you below the level that the government has already decided you do need to live on in comparison to someone else in the same situation that did not have the bedroom tax.

But the AA is the basic building block of a means test so is only looking at income. If anyone looked at any bills people needed to pay out of their income, I am sure lots of us would fall below the amount we would be deemed to need?

mysterywoman10

I agree but removal of Housing Benefit is not a bill is it? You are being given less benefit to live on because you are deemed to be in a property that is too large.

It's a debatable point.

Council tax is slightly different because you are actually getting a service like water rates which have never been paid.

ab.da54

mysterywoman10 wrote: »

We were discussing this on another thread and yes the way it is described is the way it is calculated.

But we also came to the conclusion that without CTC and CB that by paying in particular bedroom tax it would take you below the level that the government has already decided you do need to live on in comparison to someone else in the same situation that did not have the bedroom tax.

Paying gas and electricity takes you below the amount the law says you need to live on too, so does those having to top up their LHA from benefits.

If the reduction in housing benefit forms part of the bills you need to pay, just as you have to pay water, gas and electricity, is it something that can be challenged.

It's like this as an example, everyone who has a TV and watches live stream, has to buy a TV licence. Now, can those on benefits argue that they shouldn't have to pay because paying takes them below the limit the law says they need to live on?