How benefit is calculated
When assessing Housing & Council Tax Benefit entitlement we take into account the following things:
- Income, how much money you have coming in.
- Capital, your savings and investments. Also property & land (other than your home).
- Your personal circumstances, for example, your age, how many children you have, whether you are disabled, whether you have other people living with you who, the law considers, do not depend on you for support.
- Information from the Rent Service, the maximum rent for your property if you are applying for Housing Benefit. If you are applying after 07.04.2008 the maximum local housing allowance (LHA) appropriate to your circumstances.
- The amount of your Council Tax if you are applying for Council Tax Benefit.
If you are receiving Income Support or Jobseeker's Allowance income-based
If you are receiving Income Support or Jobseeker's Allowance income-based, you will usually be entitled to receive full benefit, up to the maximum decided by the Rent Service or the LHA. However, if you have any non-dependants living with you (for example, an adult son, daughter or a parent), we may make a deduction from your benefit.
If you are not in receipt of Income Support or Jobseeker's Allowance income-based
If you are not in receipt of Income Support or Jobseeker's Allowance income-based, we will work out your benefit based on the money that you have coming in, the savings and investments you have and your family circumstances.
So we can work out your benefit, we need you to give us proof of all the income, savings and investments you, or your partner, have.
If you have any non-dependants living with you, you will also have to give us details of their income and savings.
Income includes such things as earnings, pensions, benefits and maintenance that you may receive.
Savings and investments include such things as cash, money in a bank or building society, even if the account is overdrawn, stocks, shares and other properties.
Applicable Amount
If you are not in receipt of Income Support or Job Seekers Allowance income-based your income will be assessed against an 'Applicable Amount'. This is a needs allowance made up of allowances & premiums based on your personal & family circumstances. These allowances & premiums are set by Central Government. The higher your net income is above your Applicable Amount, the less benefit you will be entitled to. For the current amounts for this financial year see the tables below.
APPLICABLE AMOUNTS 2008/2009
Personal Allowances for 2008/2009
| Single | | |
| Single claimant under 18-24 | | £47.95 |
| Single claimant 25 or over | | £60.50 |
| Aged 25 to 60 (And lone parents aged not less than 18) | | £60.50 |
| Aged 60 to 64 | | £124.05 |
| Aged 65 and over | | £143.80 |
| Couple | | |
| Both aged less than 18 (HB ONLY) | | £70.70 |
| At least one aged not less than 18 | | £94.95 |
| Polygamous partner (Under 60) | | £34.45 |
| At least one aged 60 to 64 | | £189.35 |
| At least one aged over 65 | | £215.50 |
| Polygamous partner aged 60 to 64 | | £65.30 |
| Polygamous partner aged over 65 | | £71.70 |
| Child/Young Person Allowance | | |
From birth until the first Monday in the September
following the 16th birthday | | £52.59 |
From the first Monday in the September following
the 16th birthday to the day before the 20th birthday | | £52.59 |
Premiums for 2008/2009
| Family Premium | | £16.75 |
| Family Premium (Lone parent rate) (Not available for new claims) | | £22.20 |
| Disability Premium (Single) | | £25.85 |
| Couple | | £36.85 |
| Severe Disability Premium (Single) | | £50.35 |
| Severe Disability Premium one qualifies | | £50.35 |
| Severe Disability Premium both qualify | | £100.70 |
| Carer Premium | | £27.75 |
| Disabled Child Premium | | £48.72 |
| One or more children aged under one year | | £10.50 |
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