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How Do You Work Out My Benefit Entitlement?
If you are getting Income Support, Income Based Jobseekers Allowance or the Guaranteed Element of Pension Credit, you will normally get all of your eligible weekly rent paid by Housing Benefit, and all of your Council Tax paid by Council Tax Benefit. This is the maximum amount we can pay you. Other household members can have an affect on your claim. You may get less than the maximum amount if you have any Non-dependants sharing your home.
If you do not get Income Support, Income Based Jobseekers Allowance or Guaranteed Pension Credit we compare your weekly income, including any added amount for your capital, with standard amounts set by the Government. These are called Applicable Amounts.
The Applicable Amount is different for every person. It depends, for example, on your age; whether or not you have a partner or children; or if someone in your household is disabled. It is made up of Personal Allowances, for general needs, and Premiums, for special needs. Your Applicable Amount, and how it has been calculated, is shown on your decision letter. The back of the letter gives a full list of all the Personal Allowances and Premiums.
If your weekly income is less than, or the same as, your Applicable Amount, we pay the maximum benefit, less amounts for any Non-dependants.
If your weekly income is more than your Applicable Amount we take 65p off your maximum Housing Benefit, and 20p off your maximum Council Tax Benefit for each £1 your income is more than your Applicable Amount.
Whilst the minimum Housing Benefit payable is 50p per week, there is no minimum Council Tax Benefit.
Can I get an estimate of how much Benefit I may be entitled?
Yes, you can use the Web Benefits Calculator to do a trial calculation.
Special notes for people using the Web Benefits Calculator
- If you have other adults living with you, you must complete step 12 of the calculator even if you are receiving Income Support, Guaranteed Pension Credit or Income Based JobSeekers Allowance.
- Remember to include any benefit/allowance you are entitled to receive, even if it is not being paid to you because you are receiving another benefit/allowance. For example, you may be entitled to Carer's Allowance, but are not being paid it, because you are receiving another benefit, such as Widow's Pension. In this case you should indicate that you are being paid Carer's Allowance.
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