Eligibility for Housing Benefit

mandspice

I'm due to go on maternity leave in a couple of weeks and need to make a decision as to whether I'll come back to work full time once my maternity pay stops or can afford to stay at home another year or so with baby.

To do this, we would need to be able to claim benefits. I know we'll be entitled to a little child tax credit (this is our first and only child) and child benefit but I need to know if we'll be entitled to Housing Benefit (Local Housing Allowance).

We live in London and my partner earns just under £20K. Our rent is £800pcm and our LHA is £866. His salary alone wouldn't quite cover our rent and bills.

Based on an annual household income of £20K plus maybe £120 a month in CTC and child benefit would we be entitled to housing benefit? I've tried loads of online benefits calculators and they all say we would be but people have told me that these calculators are usually wrong and the earnings threshold is 20K so we wouldn't be entitled to anything......any advice / experience much appreciated! Thanks.

Cassa

TRY:

https://www.entitledto.com

mandspice

Thanks Cassa - I've tried that site and it does say we'd be entitled to a reasonable amount but people have since told me that it's completely wrong and that eanring 20K we won't be entitled to anything..........confused!

Kazzajr

Here's a list of the amounts the law says you need to live on (applicable amount) http://www.dsdni.gov.uk/benefit_rates#hb_per_all

You need to add all the amounts for your individual family situation (couple, 1 child etc), this gives your applicable amount
Then add up your actual income (wages/CTC/CB and anything else) and deduct 65% of this income from the applicable amount.
The difference (if positive) will be the amount of LHA you should be entitled to.

mandspice

Thanks for this - very confused though! I assume this:

Couple - at leastone aged more than 18 94.95

and this:

Family premium 16.75

apply so our applicable amount would be £111.70. Is this what we should live on after paying rent? If so it would just about cover the council tax and bills....

Kazzajr

There's also a young person under 11 premium of £52.59 although I can't seem to find this on that list but it should be included.
Therefore the amount law says you need to live on is £164.29.

mandspice

Thanks - I just called the local council and got them to do the calculations. We'll be entitled to £115 a week so that's great!