Housing Benefit is means-tested, so the amount you get will depend on the income you receive. We compare your total weekly income with the amount the government says you need to live on each week.
If your income is higher than the amount set by the Government, you will have to pay some of this extra income towards your housing costs (rent, rates and service charges).
You may not be entitled to any Housing Benefit if:
- you own capital or have savings of £16,000 or more (unless you get Guarantee Pension Credit )
- you live with a close relative and pay rent to them
- you are a full-time student (unless you have a disability or are responsible for a child)
- you are responsible for a child and the landlord / owner is the child’s parent
- you recently sold your home and are now renting the same home
- you are a care leaver aged 16 or 17
- you are a national of a country outside the UK or Ireland and don’t meet the qualifying conditions for Housing Benefit
- a court has directed that you must live in a hostel as a condition of bail
Quick online calculation for Housing Benefit
To find out how much Housing Benefit you might expect to receive, use our Housing Benefit calculator.
To use the calculator you will need:
- the rent charge – (please read Rent Limits to find out what rent amount we can allow and use this figure)
- date of birth for all members of your household
- income details for all members of your household
Please note this calculation will only give you an indication of how much you might receive, it is not the actual amount.
Advice disclaimer
The information in this section is for general advice only. We recommend that you contact your local Housing Benefit office if you have any queries.