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What is Local Housing Allowance?

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What is Local Housing Allowance?

Local Housing Allowance is a flat rate Housing Benefit allowance based on the following:

• Where you live
• Who lives with you, their age and gender
• Income and savings of your household

Local Housing Allowance is the maximum rent figure that is used in the benefit calculation.

There are no changes to entitlement rules. Your benefit entitlement will still be based on income, savings, personal circumstances and proof of a valid tenancy agreement.

Click on the link to goto Benefit Calculator.

Where you live

The Rent Service, an organisation separate to the Council, has divided the country into Broad Rental Market Areas (BRMA). For each Broad Rental Market Area the Rent Service will set Local Housing Allowance rates for each size of property, based upon the number of bedrooms. These rates will be updated monthly.

Barnsley is divided into 4 different Broad Rental Market Area’s and will have a set rate for each area. 'Local Housing Allowance rates'

Who lives with you, their age and gender

One bedroom is allowed for:

Each adult couple
Any two children aged under 10
Any two children of the same sex aged under 16
Any other child
Any other person (aged 16 or over)

Single people aged under 25
Most single people aged under 25 will receive the shared room rate of Local Housing Allowance.

Single people aged over 25 and couples without children
If someone shares facilities with other people who are not members of their household, they will only get the shared room rate of Local Housing Allowance.

The number of bedrooms allowed may not necessarily be the same as the number of bedrooms in your property. The Local Housing Allowance will be calculated using the number of bedrooms your household needs rather than the number of bedrooms in your property. You can choose to rent a property larger or smaller if you wish to do so.

Income and savings

Your income and savings are taken into account when calculating entitlement to Housing Benefit.

Evidence of your income and savings must be provided when applying for Housing Benefit. Only original documents will be accepted.

Examples

Reena and Suki

Reena and Suki are a couple who have a child, Ben, who is 9 years old.

They are entitled to 1 bedroom for themselves and 1 for Ben. This means any benefit they are entitled to will be based on the Local Housing Allowance rate for 2 bedrooms.

Susan

Susan is a single mother who has 3 children, Tom, who is 14, Judy, who is 11 and Raymond, who is 6.

Susan is entitled to 1 bedroom for herself, 1 bedroom for Judy and 1 bedroom for Tom and Raymond to share. This means any benefit they are entitled to will be based on the Local Housing Allowance rate for 3 bedrooms.

Lisa and Matt

Lisa and Matt are a couple who have 5 children, Shaun, who is 17, Graham, who is 15, Laura, who is 12, Millie, who is 9 and Jessica, who is 6.

They are entitled to 1 bedroom for themselves, 1 bedroom for Shaun, 1 bedroom for Laura and Millie to share, 1 bedroom for Graham and 1 bedroom for Jessica. This means any benefit they are entitled to will be based on the Local Housing Allowance rate for 5 bedrooms.

Bill and Jane

Bill and Jane are a couple who have no children. They live in a house where they share facilities.

They are entitled to 1 bedroom for themselves. As they share facilities, this means any benefit they are entitled to will be based on the Local Housing Allowance shared room rate.

Gary and Roger

Gary and Roger are a couple. They live in a self-contained flat.

They are entitled to 1 bedroom for themselves. This means any benefit they are entitled to will be based on the Local Housing Allowance rate for 1 bedroom.