Quick question about housing benefit and having a spare room!

Fay_elizabeth

I'm a bit confused, I've recently become unemployed and need to apply for housing benefit.

My partner and I live in a rented two bedroom house, just us no kids or other dependants.

Can I still apply for housing benefit, or am I exempt due to the spare room?

duchy

You can apply for housing benefit regardless of the number of bedrooms you have. How much you will get depends on several factors including income and number of bedrooms.

elmer

The spare room supplement only applies to social housing, if you rent privately, the Local authority will use your LHA rate.

elmer

Fay_elizabeth

I am using entitledto dot com, so I am right in putting that I am not exempt from LHA?

Thanks guys.

dippy3103

If you are in social housing (Ie council or housing association) then your housing benefit will be subject to a "bedroom tax" (social sector size criteria i think is the official title).
If you rent privately you will be restricted to the rent on a one bedroom property which is set out locally as an LHA rate.
The above is in general terms- there are exemptions based on age etc.
Don't forget your partners income counts when calculating benefit

Housing_Benefit_Officer

If you could afford the rent when you first moved in and haven't claimed Housing Benefit in the previous 52 weeks then the full rent will be used for the first 13 weeks.