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Benefits calculator

My Money Steps›My advice›Benefits calculator›Your housing
Step 3 of 8

Your housing

To calculate your support with housing costs, we need the details about your living situation - what you pay and any other people who live with you besides those we already know.

The total rent your household pays to the landlord.

£
Weekly 4 weekly Monthly
How to answer

Consider the following to enter your rent amount:

  • If Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit covers part or all of your rent, enter the total amount that would be due if these benefits weren't available.
  • If you live in shared housing (for example, with flatmates or other tenants not part of your family), enter only the amount you personally pay to the landlord. However, if someone you share with has moved out or stopped paying their share, and you now cover the full rent to stay in the property, enter the full amount you are responsible for. The same applies if you've separated from a partner who has left the home: in most cases, you'll be treated as liable for the full rent.
  • If your rent in social housing includes charges for water or energy, do not include these charges in the rent amount.
  • If you live in Northern Ireland and your rent includes rates (as is normally the case in social housing), include only your rent and exclude rates.
Do you know your Council Tax band?

If you're not sure, select "No" and then choose your address. We'll help you find it.

Yes
No
Which is your Council Tax band?

If you are unsure about your council tax band - you can check it here.

A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
Do you qualify to have an extra bedroom?
Yes
No
How to answer

You qualify for an extra room if any of these situations apply to your household:

  • A disabled adult, child, or non-dependant in your household requires overnight care from a carer or team of carers who don't live with you.
  • An adult couple can't share a room because of a disability, or a disabled child who would usually share a bedroom can't share due to their disability.
  • Foster carers who are between placements, but have fostered a child or become a foster carer in the last 12 months.
  • Households with adult children in the armed forces who are currently away from home.
Do any other adults live in your household?

This means any adults (not your partner or children) who live with you and treat your home as their main home.

Yes
No
How to answer

Select "Yes" if any other adults live in your home. This could be relatives (like an elderly parent), or people who rent a room from you (like a tenant or lodger).

You need to include all adults who live with you and either:

  • Pay you rent, or
  • Treat your home as the place where they normally live

Do not include adults who:

  • Are your partner or non-dependant children you've already told us about
  • Are over 18 and spend most of the year away to study (like at college or university)
  • Are in hospital or a care home for a year or more
  • Are in prison
  • Are in the armed forces and away on duty
  • Are just visiting or staying for a short time
  • Only use your address for post but don't actually live with you
  • Are carers for you or your partner, and you're paying for this service
  • Are Ukrainians you're hosting under the "Homes for Ukraine" scheme
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