Universal Credit: Housing

(asked on 12th March 2020) - View Source

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how the housing element of universal credit is calculated; and whether those calculations are made by her Department.


Answered by
Will Quince Portrait
Will Quince
This question was answered on 20th March 2020

For claimants living in the Private Rented Sector, the housing costs calculation is based on either the total amount of rent and service charges they pay, or the applicable Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rate - whichever is lowest, less any deductions for housing costs contributions for any relevant non-dependents living in the claimant’s home.

Single claimants under 35 years of age will usually receive only the Shared Accommodation Rate (SAR), unless they are subject to an exemption.

For claimants living in the Social Rented Sector, the housing costs calculation is based on the actual rent and any eligible service charges, less any deductions for removal of spare room subsidy if the claimant has spare bedrooms, less any deductions for housing costs contributions for any relevant non-dependents living in the claimant’s home.

These calculations are made by the Department.

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