Applicable amount table
The information below is to help you with the calculation of your Housing Benefit/Council Tax Reduction.
Your applicable amount is the amount the Government says you and your family need to live on each week. It is 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 we calculate your applicable amount, we compare it with your income. We do this to work out your benefit entitlement.
You can find out your entitlement to Council Tax and/or Housing Benefit.
See if the Local Housing Allowance Rate applies to you if you are renting from a private landlord. A private landlord does not include a housing association.
Applicable amounts for 2023-2024
These do not apply if you are on
- Income Support
- Job Seekers Allowance (income based)
- Employment and Support Allowance (income related)
- Universal Credit
- Guaranteed Pension Credit
| Claimant | £ per week |
|---|---|
| Single 18 - 24 | 67.20 |
| Single 25 or over | 84.80 |
| Couple - both aged less than 18 | 101.50 |
| Couple - at least one aged between 18 and under state pension credit age | 133.30 |
| Child or Young Person | 77.78 |
| Single – has reached state pension credit age before 01/04/2021 | 217.00 |
| Single – has reached state pension credit age after 01/04/2021 | 201.05 |
| Couple – both have reached state pension credit age before 01/04/2021 | 324.70 |
| Couple – both have reached state pension credit age after 01/04/2021 | 306.85 |
Please note:
- You normally must be in receipt of Child Benefit for the young person. This is if adding the personal allowance for the young person to your applicable amount.
- If you are 60 years of age or over, the personal allowance may not apply to you right away. This is due to the equalisation of state pension age.
| Premium type | £ per week |
|---|---|
| Family premium - claimants with children | 18.53 |
| Family premium (lone Parent) protected for certain claimants | 22.20 |
| Disability premium for single claimant | 39.85 |
| Disability premium for a couple | 56.80 |
| Enhanced disability premium for single claimant | 19.55 |
| Enhanced disability premium for couple | 27.90 |
| Enhanced disability premium for child | 30.17 |
| Severe disability premium for single claimant | 76.40 |
| Severe disability premium for couple (one qualifies) | 76.40 |
| Severe disability premium for couple (both qualify) | 152.80 |
| Carer premium | 42.75 |
| Disabled child premium (for each child) | 74.69 |
| Component type | £ per week |
|---|---|
| Work related activity component | 33.70 |
| Support component | 44.70 |
Amenity charges
If you pay rent to a landlord and your rent includes payment for:
- meals;
- fuel; and/or
- water charges
we have to deduct these from the rent. If included in your rent, but the amounts are not specified, we have to deduct the following:
Meal charges
| Number of meals provided | Adult | Child (under 16) |
|---|---|---|
| Full board (at least three meals per day) | 33.15 | 16.80 |
| Breakfast only | 4.05 | 4.05 |
| Part board | 22.10 | 11.05 |
Fuel charges
| Fuel type | £ per week |
|---|---|
| Heating | 35.25 |
| Hot water | 4.10 |
| Lighting | 2.85 |
| Cooking | 4.10 |
| All fuel | 46.30 |
| Fuel type | £ per week |
|---|---|
| Heating and any hot water and/or lighting | 21.10 |
| Cooking | 4.10 |
Water charges
The Rent Officer usually works out what amount to deduct for water charges.
If you receive Local Housing Allowance, the above amenity charges do not apply.
Non-dependant deductions
We deduct an amount per week if an 18 year old, or older, lives with you. This is if you are not getting Child Benefit for them:
| Age and income | Council Tax Reduction/Income | Housing Benefit | Council Tax Reduction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age 18 years or over, gross earnings £511 or more | (Council Tax Reduction £511 or more) | 116.75 | 14.15 |
| Age 18 years or over, gross earnings £410 to £510.99 | (Council Tax Reduction £410 to £510.99) | 106.35 | 11.80 |
| Age 18 years or over, gross earnings £308 to £409.99 | (Council Tax Reduction £308 to £409.99) | 93.40 | 9.40 |
| Age 18 years or over, gross earnings £236 to £307.99 | (Council Tax Reduction £236 to £307.99) | 57.10 | 9.40 |
| Age 18 years or over, gross earnings £162 to £235.99 | (Council Tax Reduction £162 to £235.99) | 41.60 | 4.60 |
| Age 18 years or over, works 16 hours or more and income less than £162 | 18.10 | 4.60 | |
| Age 18 years or over and not working 16 hours or more | 18.10 | 4.60 | |
| Age 25 years or over on Income Support, or Income Based Job Seeker's Allowance | 18.10 | 0 | |
| In receipt of main phase Employment and Support Allowance (Income Related) | 18.45 | 0 | |
| Under 25 years of age on Income Support, or on Income Based Job Seeker's Allowance, or Universal Credit (and there is no income) | 0 | 0 | |
| Not in receipt of main phase Employment and Support Allowance (Income Related) | 0 | 0 | |
| In receipt of Pension Credit in and/or not in remunerative work | 0 | 0 |
There is no non-dependant deduction if:
- you or your partner are registered blind
- you are receiving the care component of the Disability Living Allowance
- you are receiving Attendance Allowance
- you are receiving any rate of the daily living component of PIP payments
If you or your partner are:
- aged 66 years or over
- and a non-dependant moves in
there is no deduction for the first 26 weeks from the date they move in.
If you or your partner are 66 years of age or over and the non-dependant's income increases, we do not make the change until 26 weeks after the increase. Although we do not put it in place immediately, it is important that you notify us of these changes as they happen.
If you or your partner are working, we disregard one of the following amounts from your earned income:
Disregarded amounts
| Status | £ per week |
|---|---|
| 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 Person | 5.00 |
| Widowed Parents' Allowance and Widowed Mother's Allowance | 15.00 |
| Additional disregard for single persons. This is over 25 years of age and couples without children. At least one must be 25 years or over. They must be working at least 30 hours per week | 17.10 |
| Single parents, couples with children, and disabled people working at least 16 hours per week | 17.10 |
Working at least 16 hours per week and paying child care charges in respect of one child. This is up to a maximum of £175 per week of the child care charges. In respect of two or more children, up to a maximum of £300 per week of the child care charges. These are the main earnings deductions. You should contact us if you need more details.
We disregard certain benefits, such as:
- Child Benefit
- Attendance Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance
- Personal Independence Payments
We also disregard maintenance received for a child.
If you have more than £16,000 worth of capital assets, you are not entitled to benefit. If you have more than £6,000, for every £250 or part of £250 above £6,000, we add £1.00 to your weekly income. If you have reached state pension credit age, we disregard the first £10,000. We will add £1.00 for every £500 between £10,000 and £16,000.