The level of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit is assessed by comparing your Net Income with your Applicable Amount. This is a standard amount set by the Government and it is the amount which the law says you need for day to day living expenses.

If you are getting Income Support, Job Seekers Allowance or the Guarantee Credit part of pension credit, you will normally get all of your eligible rent paid by Housing Benefit and all of your council tax paid by Council Tax Benefit. This is the maximum amount we can pay. You may get less than the maximum amount if you have any non-dependants sharing your home.

If you do not get Income Support Job Seekers Allowance or Guarantee Credit, we compare your weekly income, including any added amount for capital together with your applicable amount.

Applicable amount is made up of personal allowances - for general needs, and premiums - for special needs. Your applicable amount and how it has been calculated is shown as part of your notification letter that we will send notifying you of your award of benefit.

If your weekly income is less than, or the same as, your applicable amount, we pay the maximum benefit, less amounts for any non-dependants that are living with you.

If your weekly income is more than your applicable amount we take 65p off your maximum Housing Benefit for each £1 of your income that is more than your applicable amount.

• The minimum Housing Benefit payable is 50p per week.

If your weekly income is more than your applicable amount we take 20p off your maximum Council Tax Benefit for each £1 of your income that is more than your applicable amount.

• The minimum Council Tax Benefit is 1p per week.

You can  work out how much Council Tax or Housing Benefit you may be entitled to by using our online benefits calculator. All you need to do is answer a few questions and the calculator will work out the amount of benefit you may get if you apply.

Please remember that this calculation is an estimate based on the information you supply. We will work out your actual award if you make a claim.

Click here to go to the Benefits Calculator

Click here for more information on how to make a claim.