How we calculate your benefits

How we calculate your benefits

How much will I get?

To work out your Housing and Council Tax Benefit, the council will look at:

  • money you and your partner have coming in, including earnings, maintenance, tax credits and things like occupational pensions
  • your savings and your partner's savings
  • your circumstances, such as your age, the ages and size of your family, whether you or any of your family are disabled, and whether anyone who lives with you (non dependents) could help with the rent and Council Tax.

The council will also look at whether:

  • the amount of rent is reasonable for your particular home
  • your home is a reasonable size for you and your family
  • the amount of rent is reasonable for the area your home is in.

The most Housing Benefit you can get is the same as your eligible rent. This may not be the same as your full rent. The most you can get towards your Council tax will not exceed the total Council tax payable.

The rates used to work out your Housing and Council Tax Benefit payment are generally the same as the allowance and premiums that make up Pension Credit, Income Support and income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA). There are a few exceptions listed below.

Only use the amounts shown as a guide. The rules for benefits mean that your individual circumstances may affect the amount you get. This means you will not always be able to work out exactly how much you will get by using these amounts.

Weekly amount

Premium for people with preserved rights
Family premium (lone parent rate) £22.20

Weekly amounts deducted

Deductions for non-dependants
Non-dependant receiving Pension Credit   nil
Aged 25 or over and receiving Income Support or income-based JSA, or aged 18 or over and not in paid work   £7.40
Aged 18 or over and in paid work with gross weekly income: less than £111.00 £7.40
  £111.00 - £163.99 £17.00
  £164.00 - £212.99 £23.35
  £213.00 - £282.99 £38.20
  £283.00 - £352.99 £43.50
  £353.00 and above £47.75
Deductions for meals included in the rent adult child under 16
Three or more meals a day £21.10 £10.65
Less than three a day £14.05 £7.05
Breakfast only £2.60 £2.60
Deductions for fuel charges included in the rent
More than one room: heating £15.45
  hot water £1.80
  lighting £1.25
  cooking £1.80
  all fuel £20.30
One room: heating (alone or in combination with hot water or lighting or both) £9.25
  cooking £1.80

Contact Us

If you require any help or have an enquiry we will be pleased to help.

Contact us in writing, by e-mail or by telephone:

Revenues and Benefits Service
West Wiltshire District Council
Bradley Road
Trowbridge
Wiltshire
BA14 0RD

Telephone: 01225 776655

E-mail: revenuesandbenefits@westwiltshire.gov.uk

We are here to help:

Monday - Thursday: 8:30am - 5:30pm
Friday: 8:30am - 5:00pm