How is Housing Benefit calculated and how much will I get?
YOU might be getting Housing Benefit if you are unemployed, on a low income or claiming benefits.
It's given to out to help you pay rent if you're struggling to pay your way - but not everyone can put in a new claim.
That's because it is being replaced by Universal Credit instead - so in most cases, you'll have to apply for this to get help.
Those who do get Housing Benefit will be moved onto getting Universal Credit payments instead by 2024.
It comes as renters are battling against soaring rent rates.
Families were paying an average monthly rate of £1,060 a month in December, up from £972 a year ago.
For those who do get it still, this is how Housing Benefit is calculated - and how much you can get.
How is Housing Benefit calculated?
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You may get help with all or part of your rent with Housing Benefit payments.
It's calculated using a number of different factors, including your rent rate, what type of housing you live in, and personal circumstances including your household income - we explain below.
If you live in council or social housing
For those living in council or social housing, how much you get in Housing Benefit depends on your ";eligible rent" - which is the rent you pay plus any service charges.
It doesn't include costs like energy bills or other utilities.
The amount you can claim goes down if you have a spare bedroom. You'll get 14% less of your "eligible rent" if you have one spare bedroom, and 25% for two or more.
Certain conditions are in place when it comes to sharing bedrooms - the following are expected to share:
- an adult couple
- two children under 16 of the same sex
- two children under 10 (regardless of sex)
If you're a private renter
For private renters, your "eligible rent" is whatever is lower: your actual rent or your "Local Housing Allowance" rate.
As this varies depending on where you live, it's best to check on the Gov.uk website.
How much could I get?
What you can get in Housing Benefit varies, as it depends on your personal circumstances, living situation and finances.
But for example, if you were living in a council house, paying £100 a month and had one spare bedroom, you would get the following.
Your eligible rent" is reduced by 14% because you have one spare bedroom, which makes that £86 - so the amount in Housing Benefit you'll get is calculated using that figure.
According to latest research from charity Turn2us, 745,000 people are missing out on £3.3billion of Housing Benefit - that's an average of over £4,000 per household.
But remember, its likely you'll have to apply for Universal Credit to get Housing Benefit as its being phased out.
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To find out a better estimate of what you could get, Entitledto's free works out whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credits and Universal Credit.
You have to register to use it though - if you don't want to, consumer group and charity both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto's data that let you save your results without logging in.