Benefit entitlements

You can use our benefits calculator to make sure you are maximising your income. Once you have completed the benefits calculator you will be told what benefits you may be entitled to and will be able to apply online.

You will be asked to register for an enhanced Enfield Connected account to use the calculator if you don’t already have one.

Start the benefits calculator

Benefit cap

If you are aged 16 to 64 there is a limit to the amount of benefit you can get. Your benefits may go down to the following London area cap level of:

Your capped amount will be based on the total amount of benefits that you and your partner can get. If the total amount of your benefits is more than the cap level, your Housing Benefit or Universal Credit will be reduced.

For more information on the benefit cap, visit GOV.UK.

Benefits included in the cap

The following benefits will be taken into account when working out the cap:

• Bereavement Allowance
• Child Benefit
• Child Tax Credit
• Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) (contribution-based and income-based) except where the support component has been awarded
• Housing Benefit
• Incapacity Benefit
• Income Support
• Jobseeker's Allowance (contribution-based and income-based)
• Maternity Allowance
• Severe Disablement Allowance
• Widowed Parent's Allowance
• Universal Credit

Exempt benefits

You will not be affected by the benefit cap if you, your partner or the children you get child benefit for gets:

• Armed Forces Compensation Scheme payments
• Attendance Allowance
• Carer's Allowance
• Disability Living Allowance (paid at any rate)
• Guardian's Allowance
• Industrial injuries benefits
• Personal Independent Payment
• Support component of Employment and Support Allowance
• War Pensions
• War Widows or Widowers Pension
• Working Tax Credit

For more information about these benefits and how to claim refer to GOV.UK.

What you can do if you are affected by the cap

If you are affected by the benefit cap you have the following options available:

• Find work or increase your working hours to enable you to get Working Tax Credit, this will mean that the benefit cap will not apply to you. You may be entitled to Working Tax Credit if you are:
  • single, have children and work at least 16 hours per week
  • a couple, have children and work at least 24 hours per week
  • single, aged 25 to 59 and work at least 30 hours per week
  • single, aged 60 or over and work at least 16 hours per week
• Apply for any of the exempt benefits listed above that you may be entitled to.
• Seek money management advice to help you budget for the shortfall in your rent from your own income.
• If you are struggling with debts, seek advice about managing your debts and increasing your income.
• Negotiate a lower rent with your landlord or seek alternative accommodation that's more affordable.

More information, advice and support

• Apply for Discretionary Housing Payment
• Benefit cap more information
• Benefit cap calculator
• Benefits you may be entitled to, including those exempt from the cap
• Carers Allowance
• Carers help and support
• Childcare
• Disability-related matters and benefits
• Find your local Jobcentre Plus
• Finding work
• Free Early Years Education
• Housing, benefits and debt
• Improving your financial situation
• Money, benefits, housing and employment
• Working Tax Credit and how to claim

Number of bedrooms allowed

One bedroom will be allowed for:

• adult couples
• any two children of the same sex under 16 years old
• any two children of either sex under ten years old
• any other child (other than a foster child or child whose main home is elsewhere)
• single adults (a person aged 16 or over)

Spare bedrooms

If you live in a council or housing association home and we decide that you have a spare bedroom we will limit your Housing Benefit. The amount allowed for rent and any service charges will be reduced by:

• 14 per cent of the rent for one spare bedroom
• 25 per cent of the rent for two or more spare bedrooms

You should refer to the number of bedrooms allowed to find out how many bedrooms you need (maximum of four bedrooms).

Extra bedroom for a non-resident carer, disabled child, non-dependent or a disabled partner

You can apply for the extra bedroom allowance for a non-resident overnight carer, disabled child, disabled non-dependent or if you're unable to share a bedroom with your partner due to a disability.

We will need evidence that the person is receiving one of the following:

• Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP)
• Attendance Allowance (AA) - this must be the higher rate if you're unable to share with your partner due to disability
• daily living component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• middle or higher care component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

Local Housing Allowance rates

If you live in private rented accommodation your Housing Benefit is calculated using the Local Housing Allowance (LHA). The amount of Housing Benefit you get is based on:

• the amount of rent charged
• the number of people living with you
• the number of rooms you need
• your circumstances
• your income (including benefits and pensions)
• your savings
• where you live

You should refer to the number of bedrooms allowed to find out how many bedrooms you need (maximum of four bedrooms). If you are single, under age 35 and live alone in a one bedroom property or shared accommodation, your claim will be assessed based on the shared accommodation LHA rate or the rent charged if below this amount.

In some cases, the amount of benefit you can get may also depend on whether anyone living with you is expected to pay part of the rent.

Local Housing Allowance room rates

Non-dependent deductions

Your Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support can go down if you have an adult living with you who could pay towards housing costs. We will take an amount off your benefit for that person.

You are not a non-dependent if you are a joint tenant, lodger, sub-tenant, voluntary or charitable live-in carer.