Housing Benefit for social housing tenancies doesn’t cover some service charges, so we take them off the rent you are charged before we work out your benefit.
We can't pay housing benefit to cover these charges:
- water charges
- garages
- heating, lighting, hot water, fuel for cooking
- meals
- use of a laundry
- care and support
Under occupancy size criteria
If you have more bedrooms than they need, we will apply a percentage restriction on your eligible rent. This size criteria for under-occupancy is widely known as “the bedroom tax” though it is a reduction of benefit rather than a tax.
Normally one bedroom is allowed for each of the following:
- a couple
- a single person aged 16 or more
- two children of same sex under the age of 16
- two children (of the same or opposite sex) under the age of 10
- any other child
You may be entitled to an extra bedroom if you or your partner requires live-in care or are a foster parent.
If your property has 1 bedroom more than required, a deduction of 14% of the eligible rent is made from your Housing Benefit.
If your property has two (or more) bedrooms than required, a deduction of 25% of your eligible rent is made.
No reduction applies if you or your partner have reached State Pension Credit age.
If the amount of housing benefit we award you does not cover your full rent, you may be eligible for a discretionary housing payment (DHP).