Local Housing Allowance Rates for Thanet

Rates are valid from 1st to 29th February 2012.

From 1 April 2011, Local Housing Allowance (LHA) amounts have been reduced. This means that about 3 in 10 properties for rent in the area should be affordable to people on Housing Benefit, rather than the 5 in 10 properties as previously.

These amounts will apply from the customer’s next anniversary date after 1 April 2011.  Although a further nine months transitional protection will be given in most cases.

Note - The above rates are valid from 1st to 29th February 2012. This page will be updated each month with the new rates.

The Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rate that is used to work out your benefit will depend on how many people are in your household.

One bedroom is allowed for:

• An adult couple
• Any other adult (aged 16 or over)
• Any two children of the same sex, aged to 15 years-old
• Any two children under 10 years-old
• Or any other child

What LHA rate would I be entitled to?

The maximum rate for Local Housing Allowance from 1 April 2011 is the 4 bedroom rate. If your family needs 5 or more bedrooms, you will be restricted to the 4 bedroom LHA rate.

The number of living rooms, kitchens and bathrooms is ignored for the purpose of this calculation.

More information and calculator

Example: A married couple with a 14-year-old son is entitled to one bedroom for themselves as a couple, and one bedroom for their 14-year-old son. This makes a total of two rooms - so they will qualify for the LHA rate for two rooms.

Note: If you are single, under 35 years-old and do not have a dependant or non-dependant living with you as part of your household, you will only be entitled to the shared room rate. Single claimants aged 35 years-old and over, care leavers under 22 years-old and childless couples will qualify for the one bedroom rate of LHA, but only if they have either exclusive use of two or more rooms, or exclusive use of one room, a bathroom, a toilet, and a kitchen or facilities for cooking.

Changes to Local Housing Allowance from April 2011

The Government has made changes to Local Housing Allowances. These changes affect all new claims for Local Housing Allowance from 1 April 2011. 

E-mail:

Benefits@thanet.gov.uk

Tel: 01843 577552

from 9am to 5.30pm. 

or Visit our offices