Housing Benefit Calculator
Estimate your help with rent for 2025/26 — Housing Benefit or the Universal Credit housing element — after the bedroom tax, Local Housing Allowance cap and the income taper.
Housing Benefit calculator
Estimate weekly help with rent. 2025/26 rules.
A guide only. Check your LHA rate and apply via your council / GOV.UK.
How Housing Benefit is worked out
Help with rent starts from your eligible rent — the part of your rent the rules will cover. For private tenants this is capped at the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rate for your area and household size. For social tenants, the bedroom tax can cut your eligible rent if you have spare rooms. Your benefit is then your eligible rent minus a 65% taper on any income above your "applicable amount" (basic living needs).
If you are on a passported benefit such as Pension Credit Guarantee Credit, you usually get your full eligible rent. Otherwise your award falls by 65p for every £1 of income above your applicable amount.
The bedroom tax (under-occupancy charge)
| Spare bedrooms | Cut to eligible rent |
|---|---|
| 1 spare room | −14% |
| 2 or more spare rooms | −25% |
Applies to working-age council and housing-association tenants. Source: GOV.UK.
Housing Benefit and Universal Credit
Most working-age renters now get help with rent through the housing element of Universal Credit rather than Housing Benefit. Housing Benefit continues mainly for people over State Pension age and those in supported or temporary accommodation. The eligible-rent, LHA and bedroom-tax rules are broadly the same in both systems.
How savings affect your claim
Savings over £6,000 add "tariff income" of £1 a week for each £250 above the floor, which reduces your benefit. Savings over £16,000 usually end the claim — except if you receive Pension Credit Guarantee Credit, where there is no upper capital limit.
Frequently asked questions
How much Housing Benefit will I get?
Help with rent is capped at your eligible rent (or your Local Housing Allowance rate if you rent privately), then reduced by 65p for every £1 of income above your 'applicable amount'. If you are on a passported benefit like Pension Credit Guarantee Credit, you usually get your full eligible rent.
What is the bedroom tax?
If you rent from a council or housing association and have more bedrooms than the rules allow, your eligible rent is cut by 14% for one spare room or 25% for two or more — known as the under-occupancy charge or bedroom tax.
Is Housing Benefit being replaced?
For most working-age people Housing Benefit has been replaced by the housing element of Universal Credit. Housing Benefit continues mainly for people over State Pension age and those in supported or temporary accommodation.
What is Local Housing Allowance?
Local Housing Allowance (LHA) sets the maximum rent that can be covered for private tenants, based on your area and how many bedrooms you are entitled to. You can check your local LHA rate on GOV.UK.
Do savings affect Housing Benefit?
Savings over £6,000 add 'tariff income' that reduces your benefit, and savings over £16,000 usually stop your claim — unless you receive Pension Credit Guarantee Credit, where the £16,000 limit does not apply.