Need Advice on Benefits and Renting Please

TheAlkaline

So I'm a 30 year male, still living with my parents but I'm wanting to start renting my own flat. I've got myself in a state of worry as I don't exactly earn a lot of money, and I'm worried I won't be able to actually afford living on my own. I'm working part-time, earn £9.15 an hour, and working around 12 hours a week, however that may increase to around 20 eventually.

I've heard of various benefits I might potentially be able to get to help with the cost of renting, but honestly it's all confusing to me. I keep hearing if I'm on a low income, I'll be able to claim said benefits, however I can't get a concrete answer as to what qualifies as low income. 

So my questions are:-

1. What is classed as low income (in England)?
2. What benefits am I potentially entitled to?
3. Would it be better to rent with all bills included?

Thank you.

MovingForwards

1. Don't know

2. https://www.entitledto.co.uk/ enter your details and see what it says.

3. Depends. DWP would only pay the rent side up to LHA rate https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/ due to your age you're looking at lodgings or flat share rather than a 1 bed flat.

Do you have money for the deposit and first month rent in advance?

calcotti

1) For benefits purposes there is no one definition of low income. Benefit entitlement depends on your circumstances.
2) You would be looking at Universal Credit. Help with rent would be limited to the shared room Local Housing Allowance rate for the post code.
3) You will not get help with bills. If you rent with bills included you will need a breakdown from the landlord of what is rent and what is for bills

See
https://www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk
https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/Search.aspx
https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators

Note that UC standard allowance amounts are due to reduce by £86.67/month from October.

TheAlkaline

Thanks for the replies much appreciated.

This might be a daft question but does the Housing Benefit cover flats as well as houses? 

calcotti

TheAlkaline said: This might be a daft question but does the Housing Benefit cover flats as well as houses? 

To avoid confusion, it is not Housing Benefit (which is a different benefit which you cannot claim) it is the housing element of UC.
The housing element is available to help with the cost of rent whether or not you are renting a flat, a house or a room in a shared house or as a lodger.
As previously advised the maximum help available will be restricted to the LHA shared room rate (regardless of what type of property you are renting) - unless you receive a disability benefit in which case you would be entitled to the one bedroom rate.