Working out your LHA if you are under 35

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 aged under 35, are single and do not live with any dependants, you can only get the Local Housing Allowance shared room rate. You can find out what the shared room rate is by checking our Local Housing Allowance rates page.

The Allowance Rates are displayed on our website, in our Customer Service Centres and in our office at St Aldates, opposite the Town Hall. A copy can also be obtained by contacting us.

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

Example

Marcus is single. He is aged 23. 

He is entitled to one bedroom for himself. However, as he is under 35, he is entitled to the Local Housing Allowance shared room rate.

There are extra rules if you are:

• a care leaver aged under 22
• severely disabled

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 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 is 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