Working out your LHA if you are aged 35 or over

To work out how much benefit you might get you need to find out what Local Housing Allowance rate your benefit will be based on.  If you are 35 or over, single and do not live with any dependants, your benefit will be based on the one bedroom Local Housing Allowance rate if you live in:

• a self-contained property
• shared accommodation but have two or more rooms (bedrooms or living rooms) that no-one else can use

By a self-contained property we mean one where you have your own room plus your own: 

• bathroom
• toilet, and
• kitchen (or facilities to cook with)
• For example, this could be a one-bedroom flat.

If you are 35 or over, single and do not live with any dependants, your benefit will be based on the Local Housing Allowance shared room rate if you live in shared accommodation unless you have two or more rooms (bedrooms or living rooms) that no-one else can use. 

You also need to find out if you can get the full amount of benefit. The amount of benefit you can get may be affected by:

• any money you have coming in
• any savings you have
• how much your rent is
• if you share paying the rent with someone else

Joint tenants

If you are a joint tenant this might affect the benefit you can get.  For more information about joint tenants, please get in touch with us at the address below.

What will happen if I use my benefit for something else?

Your benefit is for you to pay your rent with. If you do not use your benefit to pay your rent, your landlord may take you to court or try to evict you and you may lose your home.

What if your rent is not the same as the Local Housing Allowance rate that applies to you?

If your rent is less than the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rate that applies to you, your benefit entitlement will still be based on this rate. If the difference between your rent and your LHA rate less than £15 per week your entitlement will be based on the full amount of your LHA rate.  For example, if your weekly rent is £90 and your LHA rate is £100 the maximum amount we could pay you would be £100.

If your rent is more than £15 per week less than your LHA rate your entitlement will be based on the amount of your rent plus £15.  For example, if your weekly rent is £60 the maximum amount we could pay you would be £75.

If your rent is more than your LHA rate you will have to pay the difference yourself.

Page last reviewed 24 January 2012