Applicable amount table
The information below is to help you with the calculation of your Housing Benefit/Council Tax Reduction.
Your applicable amount is the amount the Government says you and your family need to live on each week. It is either personal allowances only, or a combination of personal allowances and premiums. Which of these apply to your claim will depend on your age, circumstances, and who is in your household. When your applicable amount is calculated, we compare it with your income. We do this to work out your benefit entitlement.
You can find out if you are entitled to Council Tax and/or Housing Benefit. You can do this by clicking on the 'online benefit calculator' link below. You will need to enter:
- your personal circumstances
- household income and
- capital details
From this, it will work out your applicable amount and your entitlement (if any).
See if the Local Housing Allowance Rate applies to you if you are renting from a private landlord. A private landlord does not include a housing association.
Applicable amounts for 2019-2020. These do not apply if you are on income support
Personal
| Personal Allowances for: | £ |
|---|---|
| Single 18 - 24 | 57.90 |
| Single 25 or over | 73.10 |
| Couple | 114.85 |
| Child | 66.90 |
| Family | 17.45 |
| Single 60 - 64 | 167.25 |
| Single 65 or over | 181.00 |
| Couple 60 - 64 | 255.25 |
| Couple 65 or over | 270.60 |
Please Note:
- You normally must be in receipt of Child Benefit for the young person. This is if adding the personal allowance for the young person to your applicable amount.
- If you are 60 years of age or over, the personal allowance may not apply to you right away. This is due to the equalisation of state pension age.
Premiums
| Premiums | £ |
|---|---|
| Family Premium (claimants with children) | 17.45 |
| Family Premium (Lone Parent) protected for certain claimants | 22.20 |
| Disability Premium for single person | 33.55 |
| Disability Premium for couple | 47.80 |
| Enhanced Disability Premium for single person | 16.40 |
| Enhanced Disability Premium for couple | 23.55 |
| Enhanced Disability Premium for child | 25.48 |
| Severe Disability Premium for single person | 64.30 |
| Severe Disability Premium for couple where one qualifies | 64.30 |
| Severe Disability Premium for couple where both qualify | 128.60 |
| Carer Premium | 36.00 |
| Disabled Child Premium | 62.86 |
Amenity charges
If you pay rent to a landlord and your rent includes payment for:
- meals;
- fuel; and/or
- water charges
we have to deduct these from the rent. If these are included in your rent, but the amounts not specified, we have to deduct the following:
Meal deductions
| Meals provide | Adult | Child (under 16) |
|---|---|---|
| Full Board (at least three meals per day) | 27.90 | 14.15 |
| Breakfast Only | 3.45 | 3.45 |
| Part Board | 18.60 | 9.35 |
Fuel charge deduction
| More than one room | £ |
|---|---|
| Heating | 30.30 |
| Hot Water | 3.50 |
| Lighting | 2.40 |
| Cooking | 3.50 |
| All fuel | 39.70 |
One room
| Facilities | £ |
|---|---|
| Heating and any hot water and/or lighting | 18.10 |
| Cooking | 3.50 |
Water charges
The Rent Officer usually works out what amount to deduct for water charges.
If you receive Local Housing Allowance, the above amenity charges do not apply.
Non-dependant deductions
We deduct an amount per week if an 18 year old, or older, lives with you. This is if you are not getting Child Benefit for them:
Non-dependant deductions
| Age | Council Tax Reduction/Income | Housing Benefit | Council Tax Reduction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age 18 years or over, gross earnings £439.00 or more | (Council Tax Reduction £436.90 or more) | 98.30 | 11.90 |
| Age 18 years or over, gross earnings £354.00 to £438.99 | (Council Tax Reduction £351.65 to £436.89) | 89.55 | 9.95 |
| Age 18 years or over, gross earnings £265.00 to £353.99 | (Council Tax Reduction £259.00 to £351.64) | 78.65 | 7.90 |
| Age 18 years or over, gross earnings £204.00 to £264.99 | (Council Tax Reduction £202.85 to £258.99) | 48.05 | 7.90 |
| Age 18 years or over, gross earnings £139.00 to £203.99 | (Council Tax Reduction £136.00 to £202.84) | 35.00 | 3.90 |
| Age 18 years or over, works 16 hours or more and income less than £139.00 | 15.25 | 3.90 | |
| Age 18 years or over and not working 16 hours or more | 15.25 | 3.90 | |
| Age 25 years or over on Income Support, or Income Based Job Seeker's Allowance | 15.25 | 0.00 | |
| In receipt of main phase Employment and Support Allowance (Income Related) | 15.25 | 0.00 | |
| Under 25 years of age on Income Support, or on Income Based Job Seeker's Allowance | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Not in receipt of main phase Employment and Support Allowance (Income Related) | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| In receipt of Pension Credit in and/or not in remunerative work | 0.00 | 0.00 |
There is no non-dependant deduction if:
- you or your partner are registered blind
- you are receiving the care component of the Disability Living Allowance
- you are receiving Attendance Allowance
- you are receiving any rate of the daily living component of PIP payments
If you or your partner are:
- aged 65 years or over
- and a non-dependant moves in
there is no deduction for the first 26 weeks from the date they move in.
If you or your partner are 65 years of age or over and the non-dependant's income increases, we do not make the change until 26 weeks after the increase. Although we do not implement it immediately, it is important that you notify us of these changes as they happen.
If you or your partner are working, we disregard one of the following amounts from your earned income:
Disregarded amounts
| Status | £ |
|---|---|
| Single Parent | 25.00 |
| If your applicable amount includes the Disability Premium, Severe Disability Premium, or Higher Pensioner Premium | 20.00 |
| Couples | 10.00 |
| Single Person | 5.00 |
| Widowed Parent's Allowance and Widowed Mother's Allowance | 15.00 |
| Additional disregard for single persons. This is over the age of 25 years and couples without children. At least one must be aged 25 years or over. They must be working at least 30 hours per week | 17.10 |
|
Single parents, couples with children, and disabled people working at least 16 hours per week |
17.10 |
Working at least 16 hours per week and paying child care charges in respect of one child. This is up to a maximum of £175 per week of the child care charges. In respect of two or more children, up to a maximum of £300 per week of the child care charges. These are the main earnings deductions. You should contact us if you need more details.
We disregard certain benefits, such as:
- Child Benefit
- Attendance Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance
We also disregard maintenance received for a child.
If you have more than £16,000 worth of capital assets, you will not be entitled to benefit. If you have more than £6,000, for every £250 or part of £250 above £6,000, we add £1.00 to your weekly income. If you are 60 years of age or over, we disregard the first £10,000. We will add £1.00 for every £500 between £10,000 and £16,000.
