How much is Housing Benefit – and how much are you entitled to?
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The payments for housing benefits have changed - since April 2011, a
new system of calculating housing benefits came into force. The amount
you will get paid for housing benefits is calculated on a 'local' basis
- not a central system.
How much housing benefit you will get, is now dependent upon
where you live and who lives with you. Together with that, there
are restrictions on the size of room or property you will get
paid for. Basically, two people living in a three bedroom house,
will only get paid for the use and room that is considered
necessary. Forget the spare bedrooms now.
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As far as the new Local Housing Benefit payments system is
concerned, they are surplus to your requirement and will not be taken
into account!
It is important to note that the new
Local Housing Allowance will not apply to those who have been receiving
housing benefits for the same property since 7th April - unless there
has been a break in your housing benefits claim since then, or unless
you have changed address. If you have been receiving housing benefits
for the period before April 7th 2008 - and your address and
circumstances are not changed, then the new Local Housing Allowance does
not apply to you.
Otherwise - Your local council will work out your (new) housing
benefits payments.
- They will take into account, the money that you and your partner have
coming in by way of earnings. This will include income such as other
benefits, tax credits, and pensions etc.
- They will also want to know how much you and your partner have as
savings.
- They will also take into account, and will want to know about, your
family, ages, disabilities, and also if there is anyone who lives with
you that could help with the rent!
The Rent and Size of your Home
The amount of rent you are paying must be reasonable for the home that
you are living in, together with which, the Local Housing Authority will expect that your home
is of a reasonable size for your particular circumstances. For instance,
if you are single and are renting a three-bedroom house, then your
Local Housing Benefit is unlikely to go far in paying the rent for that!
The Local Housing Authority will also assess that the rent you are paying, is typical for the
area in which you live. If the landlord - as is often the case -
inflates the rent beyond the 'market' price, then this will be frowned
upon - and acted upon - by the Local Housing Authority. They will NOT
help with 'inflated or over-the-top' rents.
Basically they will come to a decision on what they feel your ‘eligible
rent’ should be. It may well be that you are paying more rent than this.
But, you cannot expect them to pay over the odds – just because you feel
that you are entitled to live in your own spacious palace. Try if you
like, but be prepared for a disappointment!
How Much Housing Benefit you might get Paid.
To give a general idea on how the Local Housing Allowance differs
from town to town - or area to area. Below is a table of applicable
Housing benefits Payments in some of the Kent Local Housing Authority
areas. It was correct as of 4th October 2011, and will be increased
annualy by the rate of
| Shared Accomodation |
1 Bedroom |
2 Bedrooms |
3 Bedrooms |
4 Bedrooms |
| Ashford - £62.50 |
114.23 |
138.46 |
160.38 |
219.23 |
| Canterbury - £71.58 |
114.23 |
144.23 |
173.08 |
253.85 |
| High Weald - £77.10 |
132.69 |
173.08 |
201.92 |
323.08 |
| Maidstone - £67.50 |
124.62 |
150.00 |
173.08 |
230.77 |
| Medway/Swale - 62.50 |
103.85 |
126.92 |
144.23 |
184.62 |
| North West Kent - £68.50 |
114.23 |
138.46 |
155.77 |
199.62 |
You can use this calculator to get the applicable Housing Benefit
rate for your own Local Housing Allowance
https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/search.aspx
There will be a limit imposed on how much your Local Housing
Allowance can be.
For example, the maximum that your Local Housing Allowance can be for
a
- One bedroom property is £250.00 per week, and this also includes
shared accommodation.
- A Two bedroom property maximum will be £290.00 per week
- A three bedroom house will be a maximum of £340.00 per week
- A Four Bedroom House will be maximum £400.00 per week.
- A Five Bedroom House - or larger - will be set at the same rate
as a four bedroom house - ie £400.00 per week,
These are the absolute MAXIMUMS that can be
paid for Local Housing Allowance. As can be seen in Canterbury above,
the rent allowed for a four bedroom house is £253.85 and NOT the Maximum
allowed. It all depends upon where you live basically.
One of many concerns, is the fact that those living in London - where
a maximum of £400.00 per week is often below what is being asked by the
landlord - will move into Kent, or other nearby county areas.
