Housing benefit calculation rates 2021 to 2022
Housing benefit calculation rates 2021 to 2022 including applicable amounts, treatment of capital, disregards, non-dependant and other deductions.
- Commencement dates 2021 to 2022
- Housing benefit applicable amounts 2021 to 2022
- Applicable amounts: personal allowances
- Applicable amounts: premiums
- Treatment of capital 2021 to 2022
- Housing benefit disregards 2021 to 2022
- Housing benefit deductions 2021 to 2022
- Non-dependant deductions
- Meals deductions
- Fuel charge deductions
Commencement dates 2021 to 2022
These figures come into effect on:
Thursday 1 April 2021 – where rent is payable monthly or at any interval which is not a week or multiples of a week
Monday 5 April 2021 – where rent is payable at intervals of a week or multiples of a week
Detailed guidance from the Department for Work and Pensions on the 2021/22 up-rating is contained in HB Circular A1/2021 as revised.
Housing benefit applicable amounts 2021 to 2022
The claimant's applicable amount is the figure set by the Department for Work and Pensions to reflect the basic living needs of the claimant and their family. The 'applicable amount' is calculated by adding together the relevant 'personal allowances' and 'premiums'.
Applicable amounts: personal allowances
The claimant's applicable amount is calculated by adding together all the relevant personal allowances and premiums.
Dependent child/young person aged under 20
From 6 April 2017, there is a two-child or young person limit on the number of personal allowances awarded (for dependent children/young persons) unless either of these exemptions apply:[1]
the claimant was receiving a personal allowance for three or more children on 5 April 2017
three or more children are included in the assessment of the claimant's child tax credit (CTC) claim
Claimants who reach pension age on or after 1 April 2021
From 1 April 2021 new personal allowances are in place for housing benefit claimants who reach pension age on or after 1 April 2021.[2] See the tables below for details. The A3/2021 circular provides further information.
Table: Personal allowances
Single person | £ per week |
---|---|
Aged under 25 | 59.20 |
Any age and on main phase employment and support allowance (ESA) | 74.70 |
Aged between 25 and state pension credit age | 74.70 |
Reached pension age before 1 April 2021 | 191.15 |
Reached pension age on or after 1 April 2021 | 177.10 |
Lone parent | £ per week |
---|---|
Aged under 18 | 59.20 |
Any age and on main phase ESA | 74.70 |
Aged between 18 and state pension credit age | 74.70 |
Has reached pension age | 191.15 |
Couple | £ per week |
---|---|
Both aged under 18 | 89.45 |
One or both aged between 18 and state pension credit age | 117.40 |
Any age and on main phase ESA | 117.40 |
One or both reached pension age before 1 April 2021 | 286.05 |
Both reached pension age on or after 1 April 2021 | 270.30 |
Other | £ per week |
---|---|
Dependent child/young person aged under 20 | 68.60 |
Applicable amounts: premiums
Some claimants qualify for one or more additional amounts called premiums. Entitlement to some premiums is triggered by certain qualifying social security benefits. There are no limitations on how many premiums can be awarded to a claimant.
Family premium
From 1 May 2016, only an existing claimant who already qualified for the family premium is entitled to have this premium included in their applicable amount. If such a claimant then ceases to qualify for the family premium they cannot qualify for it again at a later date.[3]
Family premium (lone parent)
Only applies to lone parents who fulfilled certain conditions before 6 April 1998 and if certain changes of circumstances have not occurred after that date.[4]
Table: Premiums
Type of premium | £ per week |
---|---|
Family premium | 17.65 |
Family premium (lone parent) | 22.20 |
Disabled child premium (for each child) | 65.94 |
Carer premium | 37.70 |
Disability premium for single claimant | 35.10 |
Disability premium for a couple | 50.05 |
Enhanced disability premium for single claimant | 17.20 |
Enhanced disability premium for a couple | 24.60 |
Enhanced disability premium for a child | 26.67 |
Severe disability premium for single claimant | 67.30 |
Severe disability premium for a couple (one qualifies) | 67.30 |
Severe disability premium for a couple (both qualify) | 134.60 |
For certain claimants in receipt of ESA | £ per week |
---|---|
Work related activity component | 29.70 |
Support component | 39.40 |
Treatment of capital 2021 to 2022
Capital means savings, investments and the value of property or land owned but not occupied by the claimant.
For claimants who are in a couple the capital of their partner is also taken into account.
Under the cut-off age for working age housing benefit
Under regulation 52(1) Housing Benefit Regulations 2006 SI 2006/213, for a claimant under the cut-off age for working age housing benefit:
first £6,000 of capital is not counted
capital between £6,000 and £16,000 is taken into account at a tariff income of £1 per week for each £250 (or part of £250) of capital over £6,000
capital over £16,000 is not eligible for housing benefit
Over the cut-off age for working age housing benefit
Under regulations 29(2) and 43, Housing Benefit Regulations (State Pension Credit) 2006 SI 2006/214, for a claimant over the cut-off age for working age housing benefit:
first £10,000 of capital is not counted
capital between £10,000 and £16,000 is taken into account at a tariff income of £1 per week for each £500 (or part of £500) of capital over £10,000
capital over £16,000 is not eligible for housing benefit unless claimant is in receipt of pension credit (guarantee) where there is no upper limit
Residential care homes
Under regulation 52(3)-(9) Housing Benefit Regulations 2006 SI 2006/213, for a claimant of working age who is in a residential care home:
first £10,000 of capital is not counted
capital between £10,000 and £16,000 is taken into account at a tariff income of £1 per week for each £250 (or part of £250) of capital over £10,000
capital over £16,000 is not eligible for housing benefit
The cut-off age for working age housing benefit
From 6 April 2010, the age at which a claimant, whether male or female, ceased to be a housing benefit claimant of working age increased in line with the state pension age for women.
The state pension age for:
women increased from 60 to 65 in the period up to April 2018
men and women will increase from 65 to 66 between April 2018 and October 2020
men and women will increase to 67 between 2026 and 2028
The Gov.uk state pension calculator can be used to calculate a claimant's pension age.
Housing benefit disregards 2021 to 2022
The calculation of housing benefit takes into account the claimant's financial resources. Certain earnings, income and capital are disregarded.
Only the more common disregards are set out on this page. Full details of disregards are found in the Housing Benefit regulations.[5]
Table: Main earnings disregards
Claimant is | £ per week |
---|---|
Single person | 5.00 |
Couple | 10.00 |
Lone parent | 25.00 |
In special occupations/circumstances | 20.00 |
On ESA(C), IB or SDA and does permitted work (higher disregard) | 143.00 |
On ESA(C), IB or SDA and does permitted work (lower disregard) | 20.00 |
Disregards on top of above | £ per week |
---|---|
Child care charges (1 child) | up to 175.00 |
Child care charges (2 or more children) | up to 300.00 |
Additional earnings (16 to 30 hours work) | 17.10 |
Table: Main income disregards (excluding earnings)
Type of income | £ per week |
---|---|
income-based jobseeker's allowance | In full |
income-related employment and support allowance | In full |
income support | In full |
guarantee credit of pension credit | In full |
universal credit | In full |
disability living allowance | In full |
personal independence payment | In full |
attendance allowance | In full |
child benefit | In full |
child tax credit (pension age claims only) | In full |
social fund payments | In full |
guardian's allowance | In full |
discretionary housing payments | In full |
council tax rebates | In full |
council tax reductions | In full |
foster care payments | In full |
local welfare assistance | In full |
Income from a sub-tenant | 20.00 |
Income from a boarder | 20.00 + 50% of any excess over 20.00 |
Table: Main capital disregards
Type of capital | £ per week |
---|---|
Claimant's home | In full |
Claimant's personal possessions | In full |
Lump sum payments of specified benefits | In full |
Certain compensation payments | In full |
Money held in occupational and personal pensions | In full |
Business assets of a self-employed claimant | In full |
Life insurance policies' annuities or surrender value | In full |
Social fund payments and loans | In full |
Housing benefit deductions 2021 to 2022
Deductions for non-dependants, meals and fuel charges applicable when calculating housing benefit.
Non-dependant deductions
It is assumed that a non-dependant adult living with the claimant makes contributions towards the rent, whether such contributions are made or not, and therefore housing benefit is reduced by an amount as set out below. Deductions are made per each non-dependant adult (ie son, daughter, friend or relative living with the claimant) as detailed in the table below.
Table: non dependant deductions
Weekly gross income | £ per week |
---|---|
£469 or more | 102.85 |
between £377 and £468.99 | 93.70 |
between £283 and £376.99 | 82.30 |
between £217 and £282.99 | 50.30 |
between £149 and £216.99 | 36.65 |
under £149 | 15.95 |
other circumstances where a deduction is made | 15.95 |
No deduction made | £ per week |
---|---|
aged under 25 and on income support or income-based jobseeker's allowance | nil |
aged under 25 and on income-related employment and support allowance (assessment phase) | nil |
aged under 25, on universal credit and with no earned income | nil |
aged under 18 | nil |
in receipt of pension credit | nil |
in hospital for 52 weeks or more | nil |
in prison | nil |
receives a youth training allowance | nil |
Meals deductions
Housing benefit does not cover charges for meals. If these are included in the rent, a deduction is made from the claimant's rent when calculating housing benefit. If known, the actual amount of the charges is deducted; otherwise the fixed weekly amounts as set out below are deducted.
Table: meals deductions
For each adult aged 16 or over | £ per week |
---|---|
Three or more meals a day | 29.20 |
Less than three meals a day | 19.45 |
Breakfast only | 3.60 |
For each child aged under 16 | £ per week |
---|---|
Three or more meals a day | 14.80 |
Less than three meals a day | 9.75 |
Breakfast only | 3.60 |
Fuel charge deductions
Housing benefit does not normally cover water rates, fuel costs or certain other services. If these charges are included in the rent, a deduction is made from the claimant's rent when calculating housing benefit. If known, the actual amount of the charges is deducted; otherwise the fixed weekly amounts as set out below are deducted.
Table: Fuel charge deductions
Claimant occupies more than one room | £ per week |
---|---|
For heating | 34.30 |
For hot water | 4.00 |
For lighting | 2.75 |
For cooking | 4.00 |
Total for all the above | 45.05 |
Claimant occupies one room only | £ per week |
---|---|
For heating, hot water and lighting | 20.53 |
For cooking | 4.00 |
Last updated: 4 June 2021