Everyone has a maximum amount of weekly income they can receive, before their income starts to affect their housing benefit and council tax reduction.
This figure is called your applicable amount, and is compared against your income and capital to work out how much housing benefit and council tax reduction you receive.
Your applicable amount varies depending on your age, the size of your family, and any special needs you have (for example whether you are disabled).
The applicable amount has three main parts, these are:
- An amount for you and your partner – your personal allowance
- An amount for any dependent children – your children's personal allowance
- A premium - an element which you may qualify for to cover any special needs you have
Once your personal allowances and allowances for your children have been worked out, if you meet the qualifying conditions premiums can be added to make up your applicable amount.
Once your income goes over your applicable amount then for every extra pound you have, you lose 65p from your housing benefit and 20p from your council tax reduction.
Will not need to determine your applicable amount if you receive any of the following:-
- Universal credit
- Jobseekers allowance (income based)
- Employment and support allowance (income related)
- Guaranteed pension credit
- Income support.
This is because the assessment of your income and savings will already have been undertaken by the DWP or pension service. You will receive the maximum housing benefit and council tax reduction allowed, subject to any non dependant deductions for other adults who live with you.
Applicable amounts for people under state pension credit age
You can work out your state pension credit age using the government's state pension calculator.
Personal allowance
Single claimant
- Aged 16-24 - £57.90
- Aged 25 or over - £73.10
Lone parent
- Aged under18 (HB only) - £57.90
- Aged over 18 - £73.10
Couple
- Both under 18 - £87.50
- One or both over 18 - £114.85
Polygamous partner
- Amount for each additional spouse - £41.75
Personal allowances if you have children
For housing benefits this is restricted to a maximum of 2 children.
Dependent child or young person
- Amount for every child from date of birth to first Monday in the September following 16th birthday - £66.90
- Amount per child from September following the 16th birthday to day before 20th birthday as long as receiving child benefit. - £66.90
Premiums
Family premium
- Awarded once to all families with dependent children. HB claimants only receive this if they claimed before 01.05.2016 - £17.45
Family premium (lone parent)
- Awarded once to all lone parents with dependent children who claimed before 5 April 1998 - £22.20
Disability premium
- Single rate - £33.55
- Couple rate - £47.80
Enhanced disability premium
- Single or lone parent - £16.40
- Couple - £23.55
- Child - £25.48
Severe disability premium
- Single - £64.30
- Couple one qualifies - £64.30
- Couple both qualifies - £128.60
Disabled child premium
- £62.86
- Carer premium - £36.00
Applicable amounts for people over state pension credit age
You can work out your state pension credit age using the government's state pension calculator.
Personal allowance
Single claimant
- Over state pension credit age but under 65 - £163.00
- Aged over 65 - £176.40
Lone parent
- Over state pension credit age but under 65 - £163.00
- Aged over 65 - £176.40
Couple
- One or both aged over state pension credit age - £248.80
- One member or both members aged over 65 - £263.80
Polygamous partner
- All aged over state pension age but under 65 - £85.80
Polygamous partner
- Amount for each additional spouse (One or more over 65) - £87.40
Personal allowances if you have children
Dependent child or young person
- Amount for every child from date of birth to first Monday in the September following 16th birthday - £66.90
- Amount per child from September following the 16th birthday to day before 20th birthday as long as receiving child benefit - £66.90
Premiums
Family premium
- Awarded once to all families with dependent children who claimed before 01.05.2016 - £17.45
Enhanced disability premium
- Disabled child rate - £25.48
Severe disability premium
- Single - £64.30
- Couple one qualifies - £64.30
- Couple both qualifies - £128.60
Disabled child premium
- £62.86
Carer premium
- Claimant or partner or each - £36.00