Your category and how LHA is worked out
LHA is worked out according to:
- the number and sex of the people who live with you
- the area you live/want to live in
- how much money and saving you have.
The number and sex of the people who live with you
LHA is based on the number of bedrooms a household needs.
Your claim for LHA will be assessed on the basis that one bedroom is required for:
- every adult couple
- a single person aged 16 or over
- any two children of the same sex under the age of 16
- any two children under age 10
- any other child under the age of 16.
Examples:
- A couple with a daughter aged seven and a son aged four will be entitled to a property with two bedrooms – one for the couple and one for the children.
- A single parent with a daughter aged six and a son aged 12 will be entitled to a property with three bedrooms – one for the parent, one for the daughter and one for the son.
You are entitled to one additional bedroom for a disabled family member, who has a carer who stays overnight but who doesn't normally live with you, providing you rent a property which has an extra bedroom for the carer.
Since 1 April 2017 housing benefit allows an additional bedroom for couples who cannot share a bedroom due to disability.
Below are the categories of property that the Valuation Office Agency provides annual valuations for depending upon where you live in the borough:
| Category | Type of property |
| A | Shared accommodation* |
| B | One bedroom self-contained |
| C | Two bedrooms |
| D | Three bedrooms |
| E | Four bedrooms |
*LHA levels are capped at the four bedroom rate for all new claims made on or after 1 April 2011.
