Benefit Calculator

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 See 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 ineligible services such as meals and heating etc

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?

And, if applicable, enter your weekly Local Housing Allowance. Click on the above link for the latest Local Housing Allowance Rates. They depend on the area and the number of bedrooms appropriate for your 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!

Enter your actual Annual Council Tax bill. Do not take off any Council Tax Benefit you already receive.

Has this Council Tax bill already been discounted?

Are you (the claimant) on Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance or Pension Guarantee Credit?

Are you single or living with a partner as a couple?

Enter your age (or the age of the oldest person in a couple)

If applicable, enter your Employment and Support Allowance details i.e. the ESA Phase, ESA element and ESA component.

And if applicable, enter your partner's Employment and Support Allowance details i.e. the ESA Phase, ESA element and ESA component.

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 Supplement
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, 28 week if terminally ill)
Are you are 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)

You (and partner) receive the care component of Disability Living Allowance (middle/high rate) or Attendance Allowance or Constant Attendance Allowance (or partner blind and you get one), and
No other adult lives in your home except your partner, other than disabled persons, your carer, landlord or other tenants,

Does someone receive (or is entitled to) Carer's Allowance for looking after you, your partner, or both of you?

Does the person who is disabled or receiving Employment and Support Allowance (you or your partner) work an average of 16 hours or more a week?

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

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?

Are you requesting this benefit calculation from October 2009 onwards (when Child Benefit no longer counts as income)?

Have you been receiving Housing/Council Tax Benefit without a break since 5th April 1998?

£ 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 partner) 50 or over and recently off state benefits after at least six months on them - because now working 16 hours or more?

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.

Maintenance received from a former partner? Child support/maintenance payments are disregarded so do not include them.

Please enter weekly unearned income from all other sources. This includes Retirement Pensions, Incapacity Benefit, Carer's, Severe Disablement, Contribution-based Jobseeker's, Contributory Employment and Support 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.

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.

Charges for registered or approved childcare can be deducted from the income (up to £175 per week for 1 child or £300 for more) 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 set off against claimant (and partner) income.

If applicable, enter the amount of Working Tax Credit and/or Child Tax Credit (unless you or partner have reached the age of 60) that you receive.

If applicable, enter the amount of Pension Credit you receive.

If you are not receiving Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit or Pension Credit and would like an estimate of the amount you could be entitled to, check this box and if applicable, answer the questions below.

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?

This section looks for other adults who live with you (also known as Non-dependants) but pay no rent e.g. 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, receiving the Disability Allowance care component or Attendance Allowance.

in the Top Earnings Category (£382+ per week gross)

between £306 and £381.99 per week gross earnings

between £231 and £305.99 per week gross earnings

between £228 and £230.99 per week gross earnings

between £178 and £227.99 per week gross earnings

between £175 and £177.99 per week gross earnings

between £120 and £174.99 per week gross earnings

under £120 per week gross but works at least 16 hours

The number of Non-dependants (working or otherwise) in receipt of any Pension Credit at all

Number of Non-dependants (any age) on Contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance

Number of Non-dependants not on Income Support, Income-based Jobseekers Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance or any Pension Credit and not working at least 16 hours each week

Non-dependants who are under 25 and are on Income Support, Income-based Jobseekers Allowance or assessment phase Income-related Employment and Support Allowance

Non-dependants who are 25 or over and are on Income Support, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance or Income-based Jobseekers Allowance: Or under 25 and on main phase Income-related Employment and Support Allowance.