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8. Calculating means-tested benefits
[ch 8: pages 92-94]Income Support (IS), income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) and Housing Benefit (HB) are means-tested benefits that depend on your income. This table gives you the various amounts you need to add up to calculate your applicable amount from which your benefit entitlement will be decided. The rates shown are for the year from 6 April 2016. To calculate your applicable amount, add the weekly personal allowance for you, your partner (if you have one) and any children, plus any premiums payable in respect of you and your family.
There is a limit on the total amount of benefit that most people aged 16 to 64 can get. This is called the Benefit Cap. The level of the cap is:
• £500 a week for couples (with or without children currently living with them);
• £500 a week for single parents whose children live with them; and
• £350 a week for single adults who don’t have children, or whose children don’t live with them.
However, the level of the cap is due to reduce from autumn 2016 (see page 20).
Weekly personal allowances 2016-2017
| Single person — IS, ESA, JSA | |
| aged 25 or over | £73.10 |
| aged 18-24 | £57.90 |
| Single person — HB | |
| aged 25 or over | £73.10 |
| under 25 | £57.90 |
| Lone parent — IS, JSA | |
| aged 18 or over | £73.10 |
| aged under 18 | £57.90 |
| Lone parent — HB, ESA | |
| aged 18 or over | £73.10 |
| aged under 18 | £57.90 |
| Couple — HB | |
| at least one aged 18 or over | £114.85 |
| both under 18 (HB only) | £87.50 |
| Couple — IS, ESA & JSA | |
| both aged 18 or over | £114.85 |
| one under 18, one 25 or over | £73.10 |
| one under 18, one under 25 | £57.90 |
| both under 18 | £57.90 |
| Pensioners — HB | |
| single and attained qualifying age for Pension Credit but under 65 | £155.60 |
| couple one or both attained qualifying age for Pension Credit but under 65 | £237.55 |
| single/lone parent 65 and over | £168.70 |
| couple one or both 65 or over | £252.30 |
Weekly premiums to be added
| Family | |
| for people with at least one child (nil for new claims from May 2016) | £17.45 |
| lone parent rate (for IS & JSA) (nil for new claims from May 2016) | £20.20 |
| Pensioner | |
| single | £82.50 |
| couple | £122.70 |
| Disability (or sick for a continuous period of 364 days or 196 days if terminally ill) | |
| single | £32.25 |
| couple | £45.95 |
| Enhanced disability | |
| single | £15.75 |
| couple | £22.60 |
| disabled child | £24.43 |
| Severe disability | |
| single | £61.85 |
| couple (one qualifies) | £61.85 |
| couple (both qualify) | £123.70 |
| disabled child | £60.06 |
| carer | £34.60 |
Universal Credit monthly allowances 2016-2017
| Single person | |
| under 25 | £251.77 |
| 25 or over | £317.82 |
| Couple | |
| both under 25 | £395.20 |
| one or both 25 or over | £498.89 |
| Child element | |
| first child | £277.08 |
| second/subsequent child (support limited to two children from April 2017) | £231.67 |
| Disabled child additions | |
| Lower rate addition | £126.11 |
| Higher rate addition | £367.92 |
| Work Capability Element | |
| Limited Capability for Work | £126.110 |
| Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity | £315.60 |
| Carer element | |
| Carer of a severely disabled person | £150.39 |
| Childcare costs element | |
| Maximum for one child | £646.35 |
| Maximum for two or more children | £1,108.04 |
Universal Credit work allowances 2016-2017
| Single claimant (no housing element) | |
| no dependent children | £0.00 |
| one or more children | £397.00 |
| limited capability for work | £397.00 |
| Joint claimants (no housing element) | |
| no dependent children | £0.00 |
| one or more children | £397.00 |
| limited capability for work | £397.00 |
| Single claimant (with housing element) | |
| no dependent children | £0.00 |
| one or more children | £192.00 |
| limited capability for work | £192.00 |
| Joint claimants (with housing element) | |
| no dependent children | £0.00 |
| one or more children | £192.00 |
| limited capability for work | £192.00 |