Web Benefits Calculator

The Web Benefits Calculator - simply fill out this form for an instant on-line Benefits estimate
Remember this calculation is an estimate based on the information you supply. For a full evaluation you must make a formal claim. Please do not delay as benefit usually starts from the Monday after we receive your form.

Step 1 - RENT & LOCAL HOUSING ALLOWANCE Go to Step 2 if you just want help with your Council Tax bill To calculate your Local Housing Allowance entitlement you should follow the steps below: Work out the bedroom allowance for your household by entering your household details in the LHA bedroom calculator Work out your maximum weekly LHA figure by clicking on Local Housing Allowance Rates Calculate benefit by entering your contractual rent and maximum weekly LHA figure below
How much is your rent? Do not include charges for ineligible services such as meals, Council Tax, heating etc.	£
And, if applicable, enter your maximum weekly LHA figure. Click on the link for the latest Local Housing Allowance Rates - they depend on the area and the number of bedrooms appropriate for the claim. If the rent is higher than the LHA, you pay the excess - if less, you may receive up to £15 more than the rent!	£
How often is your rent payable? Fortnightly and monthly figures are automatically converted to weekly amounts.
How many rent free weeks are there (if any) in your rent year? Council tenants usually have 4 such weeks.
Step 2 - COUNCIL TAX Go to Step 3 if you do not want help with your Council Tax bill
Enter your Annual Council Tax bill. Do not take off any Council Tax Benefit you already get.	£
Has this Council Tax bill already been discounted ?
Step 3 - GENERAL INFORMATION
Are you single or living with a partner as a couple ?
Enter your age (or the age of the oldest person in a couple)
Do you or your partner receive Income Support, income based Jobseekers Allowance or Pension Guarantee Credit? If you answered 'yes' you can skip all the income questions (steps 7 to 11) because your income is assumed to be zero
Step 4 - DISABILITY / CARER DETAILS Go to Step 5 if you (or your partner) are not disabled or a carer
Do you or your partner have one of the following: Attendance Allowance Constant Attendance Allowance Disability Living Allowance Invalid Vehicle Scheme or Motability War Pensioners' Mobility Supplements Severe Disablement Allowance Incapacity Benefit (if you are the claimant, and you are sick and have been incapable of work for at least 52 weeks Are you (or your partner) registered blind or have regained your sight in the last 28 weeks?
Do you (or your partner) get the highest rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance?
Do these two statements apply to you ? (only say "yes" if both of them apply) (1) You (and partner) get care component of Disability Living Allowance (middle/high rate) or Attendance Allowance or Constant Attendance Allowance (or partner blind and you get one), and (2) No other adult lives in your home except your partner, other than disabled persons, your carer, landlord or other tenants.
Is someone getting (or entitled to) a Carer's Allowance for looking after one of you or your partner, or both of you ?
Does the person who is disabled (you or your partner) work an average of 16 hours or more a week ?

Are you (the claimant), your partner, or both of you, being paid (or entitled to be paid) a Carer's Allowance for looking after someone ?

Step 5 - CHILDREN & YOUNG PERSONS
How many children aged under 16 do you or your partner get child benefit for ?
Is there a baby (any child aged under one) in your family ?
How many young adults aged 16 to 19 years old do you or your partner get child benefit for ?
How many children included above are disabled and receiving Disability Living Allowance or are registered blind ?
How many of those children are in receipt of Disability Living Allowance at the highest care component rate ?
Step 6 - SINGLE LONE PARENTS
Have you been receiving Housing/Council Tax Benefit without a break since 5th April 1998 ?

Step 7 - EARNINGS

Go to Step 12 if you are on Income Support, income based Jobseekers Allowance or Pension Guarantee Credit.

Give figures for the claimant (and partner). Include average earnings from employment and self employment.

Be sure to enter weekly figures in the Weekly column only and Monthly figures in the Monthly column only.	£ Weekly	£ Monthly
How much do you and your partner earn (before deductions)? (Do not count expenses paid by your employer)
If you work as a childminder how much do you earn from this ? (Any earnings from childminding need to be counted separately from other earnings)
How much Income Tax and National Insurance is deducted ?
How much do you pay towards a pension scheme ?

How many hours are you (or your partner) each working in an average week ? Select the highest.
Are you (or your partner) 50 or over and recently off state benefits after at least six months on them - because you are now working 16 hours or more ?
Step 8 - UNEARNED WEEKLY INCOME Your Child Benefit will be automatically calculated based on the number of children you have told us about.
Rent from non-family sub-tenants (meals not included). Deduct a £20.00 disregard from the weekly rent received from each one.	£
Income from non-family boarders (meals included). Deduct £20.00 for each one.	£
Any maintenance received from a former partner or an absent parent? Until the end of October 2008, this includes support/maintenance payments for a child unless you (or your partner) are aged 60 or over.	£
We do not count as income any War Pensions, charitable payments or payments made as a result of personal injury.
Please enter weekly unearned income from all other sources. This includes Retirement Pensions, Incapacity Benefit, Carer's Allowance and Severe Disablement Allowances. But do not include Tax/Pension/Return to Work Credits, interest on savings or Attendance, Disability Living, Mobility and Fostering Allowances or Community Care Payments.	£
Step 9 - SAVINGS & INVESTMENTS You cannot qualify for any Housing Benefit or (most) Council Tax Benefit if you and any partner have £16,000 or more in savings and investments. The home you live in and personal possessions do not count.
How much is the value of all cash, savings, bank deposits, Tessas, PEP's, Unit Trusts, ISA's, building society accounts, Tax Credit arrears etc and all "liquid assets"?	£
How much is the value of "fixed" or non liquid assets and investments - shares, buildings and land (but not the house you are living in). Deduct 10% of the value to cover cost of sale?	£
Step 10 - CHILDCARE & STUDENT EXPENSES Eligible childcare fees (up to £175 per week for 1 child or £300 for more) can be deducted from the income of couples or lone parents in remunerative work (at least 16 hours per week) or on Statutory Sick, Maternity, Paternity or Adoption Pay or a similar benefit (up to 28 weeks). Couples still qualify if one works and the partner is incapacitated, in hospital or prison. Costs of childcare in the child's own home by a close relative are excluded.
Enter the weekly childcare charges paid. Children count up to the September following their 15th birthday (or 16th if disabled).	£
Enter the weekly student loan or grant contribution which can also be off set against claimant (and partner) income.	£

Step 11 - TAX & PENSION CREDITS
If you do NOT receive Credits uncheck this box and go to Step 12
If you do get them, enter weekly Working Tax Credit and (unless you or partner have reached the age of 60) Child Tax Credit here.	£
And if you do get Pension Credit then enter your weekly Pension Credit figure here.	£
If you do not have this information we can do an estimate for you if you complete the following information:
Between you and your partner, are you working 30 hours or more in an average week ?
Are you (or your partner) a disabled adult on High Rate Attendance Allowance ?
Step 12 - ADULTS WHO LIVE WITH YOU This section relates to adults who live with you but pay no rent, for example grown-up children. They are assumed to be contributing to the household income so a deduction is made for each one. Partners, students and most people on Income Support do not count. Skip this step if you (or your partner) are disabled due to blindness, receives the Disability Living Allowance care component or Attendance Allowance

Enter the number of non-dependants in the Top Earnings Category (£369+ per week gross)		Enter the number of non-dependants who earn between £296 and £368.99 per week gross
Enter the number of non-dependants who earn between £223 and £295.99 per week gross		Enter the number of non-dependants who earn between £220 and £222.99 per week gross
Enter the number of non-dependants who earn between £172 and £219.99 per week gross		Enter the number of non-dependants who earn between £169 and £171.99 per week gross
Enter the number of non-dependants who earn between £116 and £168.99 per week gross		Enter the number of non-dependants who earn under £116 per week gross but work at least 16 hours

The number of non-dependants (working or otherwise) in receipt of any Pension Credit at all
The number not on Income Support, Income Based Jobseekers Allowance or any Pension Credit and not working at least 16 hours per week
The number of non-dependants who are under 25 and are on Income Support or Jobseekers Allowance (Income-based)
The number of non-dependants who are 25 or over and are on Income Support or Jobseekers Allowance (Income-based)

That is all you need to do! Click and let the program work it out

Step 1 - RENT & LOCAL HOUSING ALLOWANCE

Step 2 - COUNCIL TAX

Step 3 - GENERAL INFORMATION

Step 4 - DISABILITY / CARER DETAILS

Step 5 - CHILDREN & YOUNG PERSONS

Step 6 - SINGLE LONE PARENTS

Step 7 - EARNINGS

Step 8 - UNEARNED WEEKLY INCOME

Step 9 - SAVINGS & INVESTMENTS

Step 10 - CHILDCARE & STUDENT EXPENSES

Step 11 - TAX & PENSION CREDITS

Step 12 - ADULTS WHO LIVE WITH YOU