There are variety of housing benefits and grants you could get in 2022. In fact, you may need help to pay for your rent, improvements on your home, or even reduce your Council Tax. Then, you could either receive payments, grants, or discounts on your bills. Your Benefit will walk you through everything you need to know about housing benefits in 2022.
What is Housing Benefit?
Housing Benefit is one of many housing benefits in 2022. It offers help for people under certain conditions to pay for their rent. However, Universal Credit is replacing this benefit. However, some people are still able to apply. This is only if they reached State Pension age, and are either in temporary, sheltered or supported housing.
Housing Benefit will either pay for part of or all your rent. There is no pre-determined amount for how much you may get. Instead, the amount you receive depends on if you are renting (privately or from a council), as well as on a multitude of other factors. More specifically, it will depend on the following:
- Your home situation (this includes how old the people in your household are, if a person has a disability, etc…);
- Whether you have rooms you are not using;
- The income of your household (over £6,000, this includes savings, pensions and benefits);
- ‘Eligible‘ rent that you pay.
Universal Credit is replacing Housing Benefit. Chances are, you should claim Universal Credit. However, if you do qualify for Housing Benefit, you may claim it in one of two ways.
What is Local Housing Allowance?
Local Housing Allowance (LHA) is used to calculate the amount of money that people can claim in Housing Benefit or Universal Credit (housing element). This is if renting from a private landlord.
In order to work out your Local Housing Allowance, your ‘Broad Rental Market Area‘ is determined. This is different from your local authority area, which determines your local council. One Broad Rental Market Area can encompass multiple local councils. Some local councils may also cover multiple Broad Rental Market areas.
Not all rooms are included in the Local Housing Allowance calculation. For example, kitchens, living rooms and toilets are not included. They will not count toward the calculation of things like how many bedrooms you require.
What are Local Housing Allowance rates?
Your Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rate depends on a multitude of factors. As such, it is affected by the following:
- How old you are;
- The people that you live with;
- How much rent is charged in your area;
- Your care or disability history.
Note that the majority of single private renters under 35 years old do not qualify for the higher Local Housing Allowance rate. Instead, they earn the shared accommodation rate, even when living alone. However, there are exceptions.
If you are unsure of your Local Housing Allowance rate, Your Benefits can help. We offer a free simulator that can calculate the total number of benefits you are eligible for. On top of this, are advisers are available to answer your questions, and help you save on your bills.
What is Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) housing benefit?
You may be a homeowner. Then, you may be eligible to receive one of many housing benefits for certain interest payments. Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) is one of these benefits. The payments you may be able to get help on are:
- Loans used for undergoing improvements and repairs on your home;
- Your mortgage.
This housing benefit is paid to you as a loan. As such, when you sell your home or transfer ownership, you will need to repay it with interest. Moreover, you will typically need to be receiving a qualifying interest in order to earn Support for Mortgage Interest. Such benefits include the following:
- Income Support;
- Universal Credit;
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA);
- Pension Credit;
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA).
Can I get housing benefits if I live in a cold area?
Winter Fuel Payment is one of many housing benefits in 2022. Moreover, it’s intended to help with heating bills. The payment is awarded to elderly people born on or before 26 September 1955.
You may not need to claim Winter Fuel Allowance. If you fulfil certain conditions, it may be awarded to you automatically. Furthermore, it is a tax-free payment. Additionally, the money you receive via Winter Fuel Payment does not impact other benefits.
If you are not eligible for Winter Fuel Payment, you may still earn the Warm Home Discount Scheme or Cold Weather Payment.
In order to receive Winter Fuel Payment, you must receive State Pension. On top of this, you must receive another social security benefit. However, this does not include Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, Universal Credit or Child Benefit.
How much you may receive depends on your circumstances on qualifying week. What this means is the amount of money you may earn depends on your situation from 20 to 26 September 2021.
You may be automatically disqualified for Winter Fuel Payment. This can be because of your situation during qualifying week, or other things.
For example, you may have been imprisoned the entirety of that week. Or, you may have received free treatment for more than one year. In this case, you will not be eligible for the benefit.
What is Warm Home Discount?
The Warm Home Discount Scheme is one of a number of housing benefits in 2022. It allows you to receive £140 off your electricity bill. No money is awarded to you directly. Instead, it is awarded as a one-off discount. This is done on your electricity bill between the months of October and March.
You can apply by contacting your electricity supplier directly. Additionally, you may qualify for the Warm Home Discount Scheme in one of two ways:
- First, by getting the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit (this is also called the ‘core group’);
- Second, by being on low income and meeting the other criteria for the scheme.
You may apply if you qualify for either of these two conditions. Your application process will depend on your qualifications for the discount.
What is Cold Weather Payment?
Cold Weather Payment is a housing benefit for people who live in extremely cold areas. More specifically, if the area you live in experiences especially cold periods of 7 days, then you may be entitled to this benefit. It amounts to weekly payments for each weekly period of severely cold weather.
Also note that you will automatically receive this benefit. In fact, you do not need to claim it. However, if you have a child under 5 years old, and do not notify Jobcenter Plus, you will need to contact them to apply.
You could be eligible for many housing benefits in 2022. To help you, Your Benefits writes many articles on what these benefits are, and how to claim them. To learn more, click on any of the links in this article. Moreover, use the dropdown menu on top of this page to discover more articles.
What is Council Tax?
Council Tax is a tax based on your home’s value. It allows local councils to pay for certain services, which they provide and maintain. For example, it may fund roads, street cleaning, street lamps, rubbish collection, and more.
Your property must be situated in England, Wales or Scotland to be affected by Council Tax. It is evaluated in bands, which are based on the value of your home on 1 April 1991. They are as follows:
| Council Tax valuation bands in 2022 | |
|---|---|
| Valuation band | Range of home values |
| A | Up to £40,000 |
| B | Over £40,000 to £52,000 |
| C | Over £52,000 to £68,000 |
| D | Over £68,000 to £88,000 |
| E | Over £88,000 to £120,000 |
| F | Over £120,000 to £160,000 |
| G | Over £160,000 to £320,000 |
| H | Over £320,000 |
What is on my Council Tax bill?
There are different things your Council Tax bill tells you. First, it will tell you how much you will have to pay for the year. Second, it will indicate how that amount was calculated. In fact, you will be informed why you have to pay that amount. Third, it will tell you the date by which you will have to pay.
Council Tax is typically paid online. However, there are other ways. For example, cash payments may be done through ‘Quickcards’, ‘Payzone’ or ‘Paypoint’. These can be found and done at convenience stores, newsagents, banks and post offices.
Can I get housing benefits to reduce my Council Tax?
Council Tax Support, also known as Council Tax Reduction, allows you to pay less on your Council Tax bill. If you qualify, you will get a discount on your bill. However, this benefit is not available in Northern Ireland.
You may be eligible if on a low income or claiming benefits. The Council Tax Reduction does not just reduce your bill. If you qualify, the benefit might reduce the Council Tax you have to pay by 100%.
Can I get housing benefits for home improvements?
There are certain grants that homeowners may be eligible for. These allow them to make improvements to their home to make them more energy efficient, for example.
You could earn a number of housing benefits in 2022. However, there are also other types of benefits you could get. Your Benefits writes articles on these benefits, so make sure you visit links throughout this text to learn more. Furthermore, use the dropdown menu on top of this page to discover more benefits.
What are Green Homes Grants housing benefits?
Note that Green Homes Grant no longer takes applications. The deadline was before 13 March 2021 at 5pm. If you applied before then, you may still be eligible. Once successful, you will be contacted.
The vouchers you receive allow you to cover the costs incurred by home improvements. More specifically, up to two-thirds of the improvement’s cost. The maximum amount you may earn is £5,000.
You may not be covered for the cost of a measure by both the ECO scheme and Green Homes vouchers. If you wish to receive aid from both, they each have to be for different improvements.
What are Loft Insulation Grants housing benefits?
The Loft Insulation Grant allows you to be covered 100% for insulation improvements. It is part of the Energy Companies Obligation (ECO) Scheme.
Loft insulation is a very cost-effective way to reduce your energy bills. Indeed, it prevents up to 25% of heat of escaping through the roof. As such, you will not need to spend as much money on heating.
You must receive one of the qualifying benefits in order to be eligible for this grant. Additionally, you also need to privately rent or own your property. Someone must occupy it when the assessment is done.
Loft insulation is not the only thing that can reduce your energy bills. Your Benefits can help. First, you may use our free simulator to see if you qualify for grants and benefits such as these.
Second, our experts are available to help you reduce all your bills, including your energy bill. Contact them to learn more, and see how we might help you.
What are boiler grants housing benefits?
The boiler grant is one of many housing benefits under the ECO scheme. It allows people to get more energy efficient boilers installed. In fact, this is to help low-income families to make their homes more energy efficient. Moreover, this allows them to lighten their energy bill.
If you are eligible for a boiler grant, your energy supplier should have already told you so. If they have not, contact them to let them know. Then, they should schedule an assessment. This is to determine your home’s needs, and how much you may be entitled to.
