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Housing benefit calculation rates 2022 to 2023

Housing benefit calculation rates 2022 to 2023 including applicable amounts, treatment of capital, disregards, non-dependant and other deductions.

This content applies to England & Wales

Commencement dates 2022 to 2023

These figures come into effect on:[1]

  • Friday 1 April 2022 – where rent is payable monthly or at any interval which is not a week or multiples of a week

  • Monday 4 April 2022 – 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 2022/23 up-rating is contained in HB Circular A11/2022.

Housing benefit applicable amounts 2022 to 2023

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:[2]

  • 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.[3] See the tables below for details. The A3/2021 circular provides further information.

Table: Personal allowances 2022 to 2023

Single person£ per week
Aged under 2561.05
Any age and on main phase employment and support allowance (ESA)77.00
Aged between 25 and state pension credit age77.00
Reached pension age before 1 April 2021197.10
Reached pension age on or after 1 April 2021182.60
Lone parent£ per week
Aged under 1861.05
Any age and on main phase ESA77.00
Aged between 18 and state pension credit age77.00
Has reached pension age before 1 April 2021197.10
Couple£ per week
Both aged under 1892.20
One or both aged between 18 and state pension credit age121.05
Any age and on main phase ESA121.05
One or both reached pension age before 1 April 2021294.90
Both reached pension age on or after 1 April 2021278.70
Other£ per week
Dependent child/young person aged under 20 70.80

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.[4]

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.[5]

Table: Premiums

Type of premium£ per week
Family premium 17.85
Family premium (lone parent) 22.20
Disabled child premium (for each child)68.04
Carer premium38.85
Disability premium for single claimant36.20
Disability premium for a couple51.60
Enhanced disability premium for single claimant17.75
Enhanced disability premium for a couple25.35
Enhanced disability premium for a child27.44
Severe disability premium for single claimant69.40
Severe disability premium for a couple (one qualifies)69.40
Severe disability premium for a couple (both qualify)138.80
For certain claimants in receipt of ESA£ per week
Work related activity component30.60
Support component40.60

Treatment of capital 2022 to 2023

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 2022 to 2023

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.[6]

Table: Main earnings disregards

Claimant is£ per week
Single person5.00
Couple10.00
Lone parent25.00
In special occupations/circumstances20.00
On ESA(C), IB or SDA and does permitted work (higher disregard)152.00
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 allowanceIn full
income-related employment and support allowanceIn full
income supportIn full
guarantee credit of pension creditIn full
universal creditIn full
disability living allowanceIn full
personal independence paymentIn full
attendance allowance In full
child benefitIn full
child tax credit (pension age claims only)In full
social fund paymentsIn full
guardian's allowanceIn full
discretionary housing paymentsIn full
council tax rebatesIn full
council tax reductionsIn full
foster care paymentsIn full
local welfare assistanceIn full
Income from a sub-tenant20.00
Income from a boarder20.00 + 50% of any excess over 20.00

Table: Main capital disregards

Type of capital£ per week
Claimant's homeIn full
Claimant's personal possessionsIn full
Lump sum payments of specified benefitsIn full
Certain compensation paymentsIn full
Money held in occupational and personal pensionsIn full
Business assets of a self-employed claimantIn full
Life insurance policies' annuities or surrender valueIn full
Social fund payments and loansIn full

Housing benefit deductions 2022 to 2023

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
£484 or more106.05
between £389 and £483.9996.60
between £292 and £388.9984.85
between £224 and £291.9951.85
between £154 and £223.9937.80
under £15416.45
other circumstances where a deduction is made16.45
No deduction made£ per week
aged under 25 and on income support or income-based jobseeker's allowancenil
aged under 25 and on income-related employment and support allowance (assessment phase)nil
aged under 25, on universal credit and with no earned incomenil
aged under 18nil
in receipt of pension creditnil
in hospital for 52 weeks or morenil
in prisonnil
receives a youth training allowancenil

Meals deductions

Housing benefit does not cover charges for meals. If these are included in the rent, a fixed-rate deduction is made from the claimant's rent when calculating housing benefit. The fixed weekly amounts are set out below.

Table: meals deductions

For each adult aged 16 or over£ per week
Three or more meals a day30.10
Less than three meals a day20.05
Breakfast only3.70
For each child aged under 16£ per week
Three or more meals a day15.25
Less than three meals a day10.05
Breakfast only3.70

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 heating35.25
For hot water4.10
For lighting2.85
For cooking4.10
Total for all the above46.30
Claimant occupies one room only£ per week
For heating, hot water and lighting21.10
For cooking4.10

Last updated: 25 March 2022

Footnotes

  • [1]

    Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2022 SI 2022/292.

  • [2]

    regs 7 and 9 Social Security (Restrictions on Amounts for Children and Qualifying Young Persons) Amendment Regulations 2017 SI 2017/376.

  • [3]

    para 1 Part 1 Sch 3 The Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations 2006 SI 2006/214 as amended by reg 2 The Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 SI 2021/188

  • [4]

    reg 2 Housing Benefit (Abolition of the Family Premium and date of claim) (Amendment) Regulations 2015 SI 2015/1857.

  • [5]

    para 3.3 Sch.3 Housing Benefit Regulations 2006 SI 2006/213.

  • [6]

    Schs. 4, 5 and 6 Housing Benefit Regulations 2006 SI 2006/213.