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Home << Living in West Oxfordshire << Benefits (council tax and housing) << Housing benefit >> Applying for housing benefit | Backdating housing benefit | Benefits - reporting changes in circumstances | Christmas Payments 2011 | Housing benefit changes | Housing benefit questions answered

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Housing benefit

If you are having trouble paying your rent you may be able to claim housing benefit.

In this section you will find information on:

Will you qualify?

Whether you qualify for help will depend upon:

Housing benefits are calculated under the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) scheme and are based on the area you live in (known as the Broad Rental Market Area BRMA) and the number of bedrooms you require.

Complete our online benefits calculator for an estimate of the amount of benefit available to you:

Local Housing Allowance monthly rates

Rates are calculated monthly. The rate for the month in which you take out a tenancy agreement is the rate which will be applicable until your annual review, unless you have a change of circumstance.

The shared room rate is applicable to applicants aged under 25, although this will apply to applicants aged under 35 from January 2012.

The rates for February 2012 are:

Bedrooms

Shared

 1

2

 3 4

Oxford

 346.67 655.337 794.99 950.00 1249.99

Cherwell

 303.33 495.00 650.00 750.01 975.00

Cheltenham

 281.02 475.02 599.99 725.01 1000.00

The rates for January 2012 were:

Bedrooms

Shared

 1

2

 3 4

Oxford

 350.00 664.99 794.99 950.00 1239.98

Cherwell

 300.00 495.00 645.02 750.01 950.00

Cheltenham

 279.50 469.99 599.99 725.00 1000.00

The rates for December 2011 were:

Bedrooms

Shared

 1

2

 3 4

Oxford

 339.99 650.00 784.98 924.99 1210.00

Cherwell

 314.99 495.00 645.02 750.01 950.00

Cheltenham

 275.17 475.02 599.99 725.01 1000.00

Do it online

Calculate your Benefit entitlement | Payment into a Bank Account | Report Suspected Benefit Fraud | Website Feedback Form

Go to My West Oxfordshire for all your local information or view all online services

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File downloads

Backdated benefit request form (42 kB PDF) | Benefit application form (803 kB PDF) | Benefits Glossary (61 kB PDF) | How Applications are Assessed (35 kB PDF) | LHA - difficulty paying (215 kB PDF) | LHA - General Info (257 kB PDF) | Payment into a bank account (54 kB PDF) | Second Adult Rebate (27 kB PDF) | West Oxfordshire BRMAs (495 kB PDF)

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Related pages

Appeal a benefits decision | Benefit fraud | Council tax benefit | Information for pensioners | The Landlord's Frequently Asked Questions

See also our related frequently asked questions

Other websites

Age Concern | Citizens Advice Bureau | DWP | LHA Direct | Rent Office

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Last reviewed 31 January 2012

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