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Find out your entitlement, check your next payment date and report a change in your circumstances online. You might be able to claim housing benefit to help you pay towards your rent if you are...
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Search for a different postcode. You can get information on their website. Go to Leicester City Council website. Find out other ways to apply for Housing Benefit. Explore the topic....
- Council and social housing rent
- Private rent
- How you’re paid
- The benefit cap
- Appeal a Housing Benefit decision
Eligible rent
Your eligible rent is the amount used to calculate your Housing Benefit claim. It’s your actual rent plus any service charges you have to pay (such as for lift maintenance or a communal laundry) but not things like heating or water costs for your home.
Spare bedrooms
Your Housing Benefit could be reduced if you live in council or social housing and have a spare bedroom. The reduction is: 14% of the ‘eligible rent’ for 1 spare bedroom 25% of the ‘eligible rent’ for 2 or more spare bedrooms Example Your eligible rent is £100 per week, but you have 1 spare bedroom. That means your eligible rent is reduced by 14%, to £86 per week. Your Housing Benefit will be calculated using that figure.
Sharing bedrooms
The following are expected to share: an adult couple 2 children under 16 of the same sex 2 children under 10 (regardless of sex) The following can have their own bedroom: a single adult (16 or over) a child that would normally share but shared bedrooms are already taken, for example you have 3 children and 2 already share a couple or children who cannot share because of a disability or medical condition an overnight carer for you, your partner, your child or another adult - this is only if the carer does not live with you but sometimes has to stay overnight One spare bedroom is allowed for: an approved foster carer who is between placements but only for up to 52 weeks from the end of the last placement a newly approved foster carer for up to 52 weeks from the date of approval if no child is placed with them during that time Rooms used by students and members of the armed or reserve forces will not be counted as ‘spare’ if they’re away and intend to return home.
How much you can get
How much you get depends on: the lower figure of your ‘eligible’ rent or LHA rate your household income including benefits, pensions and savings (over £6,000) your circumstances (for example your age or whether you have a disability) Contact your local council if you’re living in: a houseboat or a mooring a caravan site a room with any meals included in the rent (sometimes known as a boarding home) a hostel a Rent Act protected property
Exception
If you’ve been getting Housing Benefit since before 7 April 2008, these limits only apply if you: change address have a break in your claim for Housing Benefit
The way you get paid Housing Benefit by your council depends on the type of tenant you are.
If you’re a:
•council tenant, it’s paid into your rent account (you will not receive the money)
•private or housing association tenant, it’s paid into your bank or building society account (rarely by cheque)
The benefit cap limits the total amount of benefit you can get. It applies to most people aged 16 or over who have not reached State Pension age.
If you’re affected, your Housing Benefit will go down to make sure that the total amount of benefit you get is not more than the cap level.
Contact your local council to appeal a Housing Benefit decision.
They’ll reduce or stop your Housing Benefit until they’ve got the extra money back. You can ask the council to change their decision if you don’t think you should pay the money back. Even if you do have to pay the money back, you might be able to make the payments easier to manage - for example by paying smaller amounts over time.
An adviser will ask you about your circumstances and will be able to tell you how much Housing Benefit you’re entitled to. If you rent from a private landlord. The maximum Housing Benefit payment you can usually get is called the ‘Local Housing Allowance rate’. It depends on: where you live
You need to report a change of circumstances for you and anyone else in your house. Your claim might be stopped or reduced if you do not report a change of circumstances straight away....
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May 26, 2023 · Households in Leicester that claim housing benefit but have missed out on the Department for Work & Pensions Cost of Living Payment will also receive a voucher for £300 to help with their...
