Housing Benefit Calculator
Get an instant estimate of how much help you could receive towards your rent, based on your income, savings, rent, and household circumstances.
Estimate Your Housing Benefit
Enter your weekly rent, income, savings, and household details below. The calculator applies the same broad method used by local councils — applicable amount, taper rate, and non-dependant deductions — to give you a quick estimate.
How the Calculation Works
Five steps behind every result on the right
Work Out Your Applicable Amount
This is the weekly amount the government says you and your household need to get by, based on your age, whether you have a partner, and other circumstances.
Add Tariff Income From Savings
Savings above a lower threshold are treated as producing a small amount of extra weekly income, even if they don’t actually earn that much interest.
Compare Income to Your Applicable Amount
Any income above your applicable amount counts as excess income, which reduces the amount of Housing Benefit you can get.
Apply the 65% Taper
Excess income doesn’t reduce your benefit pound for pound — only 65 pence of every extra pound is deducted from your eligible rent.
Deduct for Non-Dependants and Cap at Rent
A fixed weekly amount may be deducted for each working-age adult living with you who isn’t your partner, and the final figure is capped at your eligible rent.
Housing Benefit Estimator
Fill in your details, then calculate
Savings Thresholds
How savings and capital typically affect a Housing Benefit claim.
| Claimant Type | Tariff Income Starts | Assumed Income | Upper Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under State Pension age | £6,000 | £1 per £250 over | £16,000 |
| Over State Pension age | £10,000 | £1 per £500 over | £16,000 |
| In residential care | £10,000 | £1 per £250 over | £16,000 |
| Receiving Guarantee Pension Credit | No limit applies | Not assessed | No limit |
Housing Benefit FAQ
Answers to the most frequently asked questions about Housing Benefit in the UK.
Housing Benefit has mostly been replaced by Universal Credit. New claims are generally only possible if you and your partner have reached State Pension age, or you live in temporary accommodation or supported housing.
If you have savings and capital over £16,000 you cannot usually get Housing Benefit, unless you receive the Guarantee Credit part of Pension Credit. Savings above a lower threshold are treated as producing a small amount of weekly tariff income.
Once your income goes above your applicable amount, Housing Benefit is reduced by 65 pence for every extra pound of income, rather than being cut pound for pound.
Housing Benefit is capped at your eligible rent, which may be limited by the Local Housing Allowance rate for your area and property size. Deductions for income, savings, or non-dependants living with you can also reduce the amount paid.