How much Housing Benefit you receive
Housing Benefit is means tested and the amount you receive will depend on your personal circumstances. The amount you receive depends on who lives with you, your total income and savings or the total amount your family receives in benefits. The amount can also be affected by the number of bedrooms your family needs.
People who live with you
Adults who live with you, other than your partner, are called non dependants. The Government expects that a non dependant will contribute to your rent and deducts this amount from any Housing Benefit you may receive, whether or not they actually do.
|
Non dependant deductions 2024/25 |
Deduction in Housing Benefit |
|---|---|
|
Age 18 or over |
|
|
|
|
Gross weekly earned income of: |
|
|
gross income: less than £176 |
£19.30 |
|
gross income: £176 to £255.99 |
£44.40 |
|
gross income: £256 to £333.99 |
£60.95 |
|
gross income: £334 to £444.99 |
£99.65 |
|
gross income: £445 to £553.99 |
£113.50 |
|
gross income: £554 and above |
£124.55 |
|
£19.30 |
|
Aged under 25 |
|
|
Receiving IS/JSA (IB)/ ESA (IR) assessment phase |
Nil |
|
No earned income and is receiving Universal Credit |
Nil |
|
Receiving ESA (IR) which does not include an amount for the support component or work related activity component |
Nil |
|
Receiving ESA (IR) main phase |
£19.30 |
|
Aged over 25 |
|
|
Receiving IS/JSA (IB)/ESA (IR) main phase or Universal Credit with no earned income |
£19.30 |
| Receiving ESA (IR) assessment phase | £19.30 |
| No earned income and receiving Universal Credit | £19.30 |
| Receiving JSA (C) or ESA (C) | £19.30 |
| Receiving Pension Credit | Nil |
How many bedrooms does your family need?
In 2013, the Government introduced new rules that set out the number of bedrooms Housing Benefit will pay for if you rent your home. This is called “removal of the spare room subsidy”, but it is commonly known as “bedroom tax”.
How will this affect me?
It is possible that the amount of Housing Benefit you get to pay your rent could go down. If you are assessed under these rules as having more bedrooms than is necessary for your household you will be considered to be under-occupying that property. If you are under-occupying there will be a reduction in your Housing Benefit of:
- 14% of the total eligible rent for under-occupancy by one bedroom
- 25% of the total eligible rent for under-occupancy by two bedrooms or more
If you are thinking of moving you need to consider these changes before you renew or make a new tenancy agreement.
Total amount of benefit received by your family
In 2013, the Government introduced a “cap” on the total amount of benefits that working age people can receive if they are not working. Only some people will be affected.
War Pension local scheme disregard
Birmingham City Council run a local scheme which disregards the whole of any War Pension when determining your Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax support.
Page last updated: 31 October 2024
