The information below is to help you with the calculation of your Housing Benefit / Council Tax Benefit.
Your applicable amount is the amount that the Government says that you and your family need to live on each week. It is made up of either personal allowances only or a combination of personal allowances and premiums. Which of these apply to your claim will depend on your age, circumstances and who is in your household.
When your applicable amount has been calculated it is then compared with your income to work out your benefit entitlement.
If you would like to find out if you are enttitled to Council Tax and/or Housing Benefit then you can do this by clicking on the online benefit calculator link below. You will need to enter your personal circumstances ie household, income and capital details. From this it will work out your applicable amount and therefore your entitlement (if any).
If you are renting from a private landlord not a Housing Association then you will need to find out the Local Housing Allowance rate that applies to you.
Online benefit calculator (Opens in new window)
They are the figures that I have to use for 2012 / 2013.
Applicable Amounts - (these do not apply if you are on Income Support)
Personal Allowances
| Personal Allowances for: |
£ |
| Single claimant aged less than 25 |
56.25 |
| Single claimant aged not less than 25 |
71.00 |
| Single claimant aged 60 to 64 |
142.70 |
| Single claimant aged 65 or over |
161.25 |
| Lone parent aged less than 18 |
56.25 |
| Lone parent aged not less than 18 |
71.00 |
| Lone parent aged 60 to 64 |
142.70 |
| Lone parent aged 65 or over |
161.25 |
| Couple both aged less than 18 |
84.95 |
| Couple at least one aged 18 |
111.45 |
| Couple at least one aged 60 to 64 |
217.90 |
| Couple at least one aged 65 or over |
241.65 |
| Child or young person from birth to first Monday in September following the 16th birthday |
64.99 |
| Child or young person from first Monday in September following the 16th birthday to day before 20th birthday |
64.99 |
Please note
- You normally must be in receipt of Child Benefit for the young person if a personal allowance for the young person is to be added to your applicable amount.
- If you are 60 or over the personal allowance may not apply to you right away due the the equalisation of state pension age.
Premiums
| Premiums |
£ |
| Family Premium (claimants with children) |
17.40 |
| Family Premium (Lone Parent) protected for certain claimants |
22.20 |
| Disability Premium for single person |
30.35 |
| Disability Premium for couple |
43.25 |
| Enhanced Disability Premium for single person |
14.80 |
| Enhanced Disability Premium for couple |
21.30 |
| Enhanced Disability Premium for child |
22.89 |
| Severe Disability Premium for single person |
58.20 |
| Severe Disability Premium for couple where one qualifies |
58.20 |
| Severe Disability Premium for couple where both qualify |
116.40 |
| Carer Premium |
32.60 |
| Disabled Child Premium |
56.63 |
Amenity Charges
If you pay rent to a landlord and your rent includes payment for meals, fuel and / or water charges I have to deduct these from the rent. If these are included in your rent but the amounts are not specified I have to deduct the following:
Meal Deductions
| |
Adult |
Child (under 16) |
| Full Board (at least three meals per day) |
25.30 |
12.80 |
| Breakfast only |
3.10 |
3.10 |
| Part Board |
16.85 |
8.45 |
Fuel Charge Deduction
More than one room
| |
£ |
| -Heating |
25.50 |
| -Hot Water |
2.95 |
| -Lighting |
2.05 |
| -Cooking |
2.95 |
| -All fuel |
33.45 |
One Room
| |
£ |
| -Heating and any hot water and / or lighting |
15.25 |
| -Cooking |
2.95 |
Water Charges
The Rent Officer usually works out what amount to deduct for water charges.
Please note that if you receive Local Housing Allowance the above amenity charges do not apply.
Non-Dependant Deductions
Normally, if there is someone who lives with you who is 18 or over and you are not getting child benefit for them, I have to deduct one of the following amounts per week:
| |
Housing Benefit |
Council Tax Benefit |
| Age 18 or over, gross earnings £394.00 or more |
73.85 |
9.90 |
| Age 18 or over, gross earnings £316.00 to £393.99 |
67.25 |
8.25 |
| Age 18 or over, gross earnings £238.00 to £315.99 |
59.05 |
6.55 |
| Age 18 or over, gross earnings £183.00 to £237.99 |
36.10 |
6.55 |
| Age 18 or over, gross earnings £124.00 to £182.99 |
26.25 |
3.30 |
| Age 18 or over, income less than £124.00 |
11.45 |
3.30 |
| Age 18 or over and not in remunerative work |
11.45 |
3.30 |
| Age 25 or over on Income Support or Income Based Jobseekers Allowance |
11.45 |
0.00 |
| In receipt of main phase Employment and Support Allowance (Income Related) |
11.45 |
0.00 |
| Under 25 on Income Support or on Income Based Job Seekers Allowance |
0.00 |
0.00 |
| Not in receipt of main phase Employment and Support Allowance (Income Related) |
0.00 |
0.00 |
| In receipt of Pension Credit in and/or not in remunerative work |
0.00 |
0.00 |
There is no non-dependant deduction, if you or your partner are registered blind or receiving the care component of the Disability Living Allowance or Attendance Allowance. If you or your partner are aged 65 or over and a non-dependant moves in, there is no deduction for the first 26 weeks from the date they move in. Also if you or your partner are 65 or over and the non-dependants income increases, the change is not done until 26 weeks after the increase. Although they are not implemented immediately, it is important that you notify us of these changes as they happen.
Notes
- If you or your partner are working, I disregard one of the following amounts from your earned income:
| |
£ |
| Single Parent |
25.00 |
| If your applicable amount includes the Disability Premium, Severe Disability Premium or Higher Pensioner Premium |
20.00 |
| Couples |
10.00 |
| Single |
5.00 |
| Widowed Parents Allowance and Widowed Mothers Allowance |
15.00 |
| Additional disregard for single persons (aged 25 or over) and couples without children (at least one aged 25 or over) working at least 30 hours per week |
17.10 |
| Single parents, couples with children, disabled people and certain people aged 50 or over working at least 16 hours per week |
17.10 |
Working at least 16 hours per week and paying childcare charges in respect of one child up to a maximum of £175.00 per week of the childcare charges
In respect of 2 or more children up to a maximum £300.00 per week of the childcare charges.
(These are the main earnings deductions. You should contact the Council if you need more details)
- Certain benefits such as Attendance Allowance and Disability Living Allowance are disregarded. Child Benefit and maintenance received for a child are also disregarded
- If you have more than £16,000 worth of capital assets you will not be entitled to benefit. If you have more than £6,000, for every £250 or part of £250 above £6,000 I have to add £1 to your weekly income. However, if you are aged 60 or over the first £10,000 is disregarded and £1 will be added for every £500 between £10,000 and £16,000.
