Are you 25 to 34 years old and do you live alone in self contained accommodation?
- Most people of working age have to apply for Universal Credit housing costs if they need help with their rent. See our Universal Credit page for more information.
If you qualify for Housing Benefit
Housing Benefit (HB) is restricted to a Shared Accommodation Rate for most single people under the age of 35. The restriction applies to people whose HB is worked out using a Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rate or a Rent Officer Decision.
HB is restricted to a Shared Accommodation Rate if all of the following apply to you:
- you live alone in self-contained accommodation, and
- you rent from a private landlord, and
- you do not qualify for an exemption from a shared rate
You can use the Direct Gov bedroom calculator (external link) to see if the Shared Accommodation Rate applies to you.
If your HB is worked out using an LHA rate, the shared rates that apply in Haringey are on our LHA Rates page or you can find them on Direct.Gov (external link).
If your HB is worked out using a Rent Officer Decision we cannot tell you the exact amount that will apply to you until we receive that decision.
Exemptions from the restriction
If you are under the age of 35 and live alone in self-contained accommodation you may be exempt from the shared rate restriction, if:
- you are a care-leaver under the age of 25 (this exemption ends when you reach the age of 25)
- you get middle or higher rate Disability Living Allowance and no-one gets Carer's Allowance or the Carer Element of Universal Credit for looking after you
- you get the standard or enhanced Daily Living Component of Personal Independence Payment and no-one gets Carer's Allowance or the Carer Element of Universal Credit for looking after you
- you get an Armed Forces Independence Payment and no-one gets Carer's Allowance or the Carer Element of Universal Credit for looking after you
- you are at least 16 years old and spent 3 months or more in a hostel (or hostels) for homeless people and were provided with support and meals or cooking facilities when living there
- you are at least 25 years old and are an ex-offender who is subject to multi-agency management
- you have a spare bedroom and regularly receive overnight care from a carer who does not normally live with you
- you have a spare bedroom and have a foster child or young person living with you
- you are suffering or threatened with domestic violence
- you are identified as a victim of modern slavery
You must provide evidence if any of the above apply to you so we can work out if you qualify for an exemption from the restriction.