What is the earning threshold as a couple for claiming housing benefit?

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We have not claimed anything before, but was wondering if we are likely to be entitled to claim any housing benefit. We have no savings, are renting privately, and our income last year was much lower than usual - we are both self-employed. Is there an earning threshold, or are there other factors as well, does anyone know?

Thanks for the help.

Look at www.turn2us.org.uk or entitledto and put your earnings into it. That should give you a good idea.

You need to establish your LHA which you can do here lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/Secure/Default.aspx This is the figure you put into the www.turn2us.entitledto.co.uk/entitlementcalculator.aspx calculator.

Read up on the rules for the number of bedrooms first.

How are your current earnings, month by month? Ime housing benefit is not like tax credits as it doesn't calculate on the previous tax year but rather on current earnings/tax credit award. It's a pita, you need to give them proof of everything plus your firstborn child, and still every time we claim we end up owing them money, despite being pathologically honest .