We compare your finances (income and capital) to how much the government says that you and your family need to live on (this is called the applicable amount) each week.
To decide how much Housing Benefit you are entitled to we will use the following information:
- the money you and your partner have coming in including:
- earnings
- some benefits
- tax credits
- pensions
- your savings (and your partner's savings) this includes:
- money you have in your bank accounts or Building Society accounts
- assets (such as property or land)
- stocks, shares and premium bonds
- your circumstances such as :
- your age
- the number of people in your household and their ages
- if you or any of your family are disabled
- if anyone who lives with you could help with the rent
Non Dependants
A Non Dependant is someone aged 18 or over who lives with you but is not a tenant or a lodger. An example of a non dependant is a grown up son or daughter who lives at home.
In most cases we will make a deduction from your Housing Benefit because we expect that your non dependant will help towards housing costs, whether they do or not. The amount we take will be decided based on their gross income.