Housing benefit is a 'means tested benefit.'

We compare your weekly income with your 'needs figure'.

Your weekly income takes into account earnings, other benefits and pensions you may receive. We may assume income from savings as well. Some income such as disability living allowance is disregarded.

Your 'needs figure' includes an amount for you and your partner (including opposite and same sex partners), additions for dependant children, being aged 60 or over, being over 65 and may include extra amounts if you are sick or disabled or a carer.

If your income is less than your 'needs figure' you may get maximum housing benefit. See what housing benefit covers.

If your income is greater than your needs figure your weekly housing benefit is reduced by 65p for each extra £ of income you have.

If you have 'non dependants' living with you e.g. grown up children or elderly relatives this may reduce the benefit you receive.

Try our benefits calculator for an instant online estimate of the benefits you may be entitled to.

What housing benefit covers

If you are a council or housing association tenant, then housing benefit only covers your basic rent. This is called your eligible rent. Charges for some services are taken off your rent before we work out your housing benefit, for example water charges, fuel charges, meals, cleaning and laundry. The amount taken off is either the amount you pay or, if this is not known, a fixed amount set by the government.

If you are a private tenant and your claim was made before 7 April 2008, we will work out your benefit using a rent figure provided by the Rent Service which may be lower than the actual rent you pay.

Your benefit may be restricted if:

• your rent is unreasonably expensive or high
• your home is bigger than you and your family need, or
• your rent is at the ‘top end’ of the market, or
• your rent is more than average for rents of similar sized accommodation in your area

However if your tenancy began before 15 January 1989 you will usually be protected by the Rent Act. You have the right to have a Fair Rent registered. This means your housing benefit shouldn't be restricted. For more information see pages 21 to 27 of our benefits information booklet.

If you are a private tenant and your claim was made on or after 7 April 2008, we will work out your benefit using the Local Housing Allowance.  See Local Housing Allowance for more information.