What LHA Rate am I entitled to?

Your Local Housing Allowance rate is based on the number of bedrooms you need for your family. The following is used to work out what size property you need:

One bedroom for:

• every adult couple
• any other adult over 16 years of age
• any two children of the same sex, aged under 16
• any two children regardless of their sex, aged under 10
• any other child

The Valuation Office Agency sets rates for different size properties each month. The rate your benefit will be based on will depend on the size of your household.

If you are single and under 35 years old, you will only receive the rate for shared accommodation. 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 if you choose to live in shared accommodation you will only receive the rate for shared accommodation.

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.

How many rooms does my household need?

We will then work out how much Local Housing Allowance you will receive by looking at your income and savings – in the same way as the current Housing Benefit Scheme.

• How many rooms does my household need? LHA 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.

E-mail:

Benefits@thanet.gov.uk

Tel: 01843 577552

from 9am to 5.30pm. 

Fax: 01843 577532

or Visit our offices