How we work out benefits

The amount of benefit you may get depends on four things:

• Your personal circumstances
• Your savings
• How much money you have coming in
• The amount of council tax or rent you have to pay

We will compare the money you have coming in each week, with the amount of money that the law says that you need to live on, to work out your benefit.

Housing Benefit is help towards your rent only. Some services may be included in your rent which are not eligible for benefit. These include:

• Fuel costs
• Meals
• Water charges
• Some support charges
• Personal care charges
• Personal cleaning & laundry

Statutory deductions are made for fuel costs and for meals, but fuel cost deductions can be changed if detailed proof of the actual charges is supplied.

If the rent you are charged is too expensive, or your accommodation is considered to be overlarge for your reasonable needs, your housing benefit may be reduced.

You can find out the maximum rent that we can use before you move into a property by asking for a pre-tenancy determination form.

If you are the only person in your home who has to pay council tax, but there is at least one other person aged 18 or over living with you who is not your partner or a lodger, you may get more council tax benefit based on their income. This benefit is called ‘Second Adult Rebate’. We will automatically work out both Second Adult Rebate and Council Tax Benefit and give you the highest amount.

If you are a pensioner the way we work out your housing/council tax benefit changed from the 6th October 2003. Click on the link on the left for information about Changes to Benefits for Pensioners from 6 October 03.