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Calculating benefits

Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support are assessed by comparing your income against figures provided by the government that reflect your basic needs. This is called your applicable amount.

The applicable amount differs for each person as it relates to you and your family's circumstances.

We consider:

  • You and your partners age
  • Any disabilities you or your partner may have
  • Any children for whom child benefit is payable

Whether you qualify for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support depends on many circumstances. The following are also taken into consideration:

  • Your income and any savings you may have
  • The size of your family
  • Income from non-dependents (other people aged 18 or over who live with you)

Remember - if you are aged between 16 and 60 and have savings of £16,000 or over, you will not qualify for Housing Benefit. However, if you are over 60 and in receipt of the Guaranteed Credit part of the Pension Credit you may qualify.

Your rent will be looked at to see if it contains certain service charges.

We cannot give help towards:

  • Water rates
  • Meals/food
  • Heating/lighting
  • Cooking and hot water
  • Laundry, TV etc.

These are known as ineligible service charges. You may therefore have a shortfall in the amount of rent you have to pay and the amount of Housing Benefit that we can pay. You would have to make up the shortfall yourself.

Check your potential entitlement to benefits by using a benefits calculator.

Why information is on a different website
We are in the process of adding information to this new unitary council website. Some pages will give you a link back to a previous council website to help you find what you need. Read more about the council changes.

Last updated 08 July 2021