How many bedrooms you can claim benefits for

The number of bedrooms you can get benefits for depends on the age, sex and number of people in your household.

Private renters

The most you can get towards your rent is your local housing allowance (LHA) rate.

LHA rates are often lower than your rent. You have to pay anything that is not covered from other income or benefits.

Most single private renters under 35 can only get the shared accommodation rate. But there are exceptions and you might get a higher LHA rate.

Council and housing association tenants

Your benefit is reduced if you have spare bedrooms. This is known as the bedroom tax. You must pay the rent shortfall yourself.

1. Check how many people you can claim for

The rules are different for universal credit (UC) and housing benefit.

Universal credit rules

Only include:

• you and any dependent children

• your partner if you live with them

• any other adults who live with you but do not pay rent

Do not include lodgers or other joint tenants, except for your partner.

Housing benefit rules

Count everyone who lives in your home including lodgers and other joint tenants.

If your children have 2 homes

Your children can only be included in the benefit claim and bedroom entitlement of 1 person.

With UC, you can jointly agree which one of you is the main carer.

If you cannot agree, the DWP decides based on the actual arrangements. For example, where the children spend the most time.

With housing benefit, the main carer is the person who gets child benefit for the children.

Apply for discretionary housing payments (DHPs) if you need a bedroom for a child who you do not get benefits for. For example, they live with you at weekends but you are not the main carer.

2. Work out your bedroom entitlement

You can usually claim for 1 bedroom for: 

• you - and a partner if claiming as a couple

• each other couple (only if you claim HB) 

• each other person aged 16 or over (even if part of a couple if you claim UC) 

• 2 children under 16 of the same sex

• 2 children under 10 of any sex

• any other child under 16

Foster children

You get benefits for an extra bedroom if you have a foster child placed with you. This can continue for up to 12 months between placements.

Overnight carers

You could get benefits for an extra bedroom if a carer stays overnight to give care to anyone in your household. The carer could be paid or unpaid. They must stay over on a regular basis.

The person who needs the overnight care must get one of these benefits: 

• attendance allowance

• PIP - daily living component

• DLA - middle or high care component

Disabled person who cannot share a bedroom

You get payment for an extra bedroom if due to disability:

• an adult cannot share with their partner

• a child cannot share with another child

The disabled person must get one of the following benefits:

• attendance allowance

• PIP - daily living component

• DLA - middle or high care component

3. Report any changes in your household

Your bedroom entitlement could go up if:

• a friend or family member moves in

• you have a baby, adopt a child or become a foster carer

• your child reaches an age where they're no longer expected to share

• a disabled household member cannot share or needs an overnight carer

Your benefits will go down if a household member moves out or is away for longer than the rules allow.

If you get ESA and housing benefit, it could mean you have to move to UC.

Find out more about:

• moving from ESA to universal credit

• how a change of circumstances affects universal credit

Household members who are away

You can include a household member in your claim if they're only away temporarily. 

How long you can include them for depends on:

• where they go

• why they are away

• how they are related to you

• which benefit you claim

You cannot usually continue to claim for someone who you do not expect to return within the time limits.

Going away in Britain

You or a household member can be treated as still needing a bedroom if you or they are expected to return within:

• 6 months if you get UC

• 12 months if you get housing benefit

This can usually be for any reason. For example, working or in hospital.

Going outside Britain

You can only get benefits for you or a household member if you or they are expected to return within:

• 1 month if you get UC  

• 4 weeks if you get housing benefit

Going to Northern Ireland comes under this rule.

This rule does not apply to adult children in the armed forces who are away on operations.

Adult children in the armed forces

If your child or stepchild is away on operations, you can include them indefinitely if they:

• lived with you before they went away

• intend to return home when not on operations  

Children in local authority care

Your child still counts as part of your household for 6 months if:

• you get UC

• your child was part of your benefits claim when they went into care

Your housing element may go down after 6 months unless your child returns home.

Household members in prison

If you get universal credit, you can include a household member who is in prison for the first 6 months. This applies even if you do not expect them to return.

Your bedroom entitlement could go down after this unless they return to the family home.

If you get housing benefit, you can include a household member in prison for up to:

• 13 weeks - if sentenced

• 52 weeks - if on remand

You must expect them to return home within this time. You cannot include them if they decide not to return or end up spending longer in prison. 

4. If your benefit is worked out wrongly

You can ask for a review of a:

• universal credit decision

• housing benefit decision

More about challenging a benefits decision from Citizens Advice.