About the calculator

The calculator has four sections: 'You & Your Household'; 'Health & Disability'; 'Money Coming In'; and 'Money Going Out'. The number of questions you need to answer depends on your circumstances - for example someone with children will have to answer more questions than someone without children.

Getting the results

When you have answered all the questions you will see a screen showing 'Your Results'. This tells you how much rent you should pay and how much Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction and working families tax credit you should expect to get. You can get extra information from here about how to claim, and how to do different calculations based on changing circumstances.

About the questions

Sometimes there is extra text between the end of the question and the possible answers. This is useful information to help you decide on the right answer. On some questions you will also see the word 'help' underlined with a question mark logo. Click on this link to get extra information if you're not sure how to answer.

How to answer

Some questions have a list of answers to choose from. Click on the button next to the answer you want. Sometimes you can only pick one answer (eg 'yes' or 'no'); other questions allow you to pick more than one answer from a list. The button(s) you click on become highlighted. Other questions ask you to type in an answer - usually an amount of money. Be careful to put in the correct amount. The pound sign (£) will already be here, followed by a box that shows 0.00. You can leave this at 0.00 if that is the correct answer, or remove the 0.00 and replace it with your own figure. Do this carefully. Make sure you put the full stop in the right place - between the pounds and the pence. For example if your answer is £31.24, make sure you don't put £3.124 or £312.4 by mistake If it's an amount with no pence (eg £24), you can put in exactly that - there's no need to put the full stop and 00 (although you can type it like that if you prefer). If the answer is in thousands, don't put a comma in the figure - put 2100.50 for example, not 2,100.50.

When you've answered

While the answer is still showing, check it carefully before you go to the next question (although you can double-check all your answers later - see 'show your answers' below'). Go to the next question by pressing the 'Next' button below the answer. Try to only click once on the 'Next' button. Clicking more than once can cause problems with the calculator, and you may see a warning message.

Going back to the previous question

If you want to go back to the last question you answered, use the 'Previous' button. Don't use the 'Back' button on your browser (that's the button with a back arrow near the top left of your computer screen) - this can cause problems with the calculator, and you may see a warning message. Try to only click once on the 'Previous' button. Clicking more than once can cause problems with the calculator, and you may see a warning message.

Show your answers

If you want to go back to earlier questions go to 'show your answers' at the bottom of the screen. This displays every question and lets you check how you answered. From this display you can alter an individual answer, or restart the calculator from a particular question.

Warning messages

If you don't answer a question before you press the 'Next' button you'll see a warning message (in red). It will tell you where to put an answer. You may also see a warning message if you have put in an answer that the calculator recognises as wrong - for example if you put in an amount of benefit that is higher than the top rate possible. The message will tell you where you have gone wrong.

Come back later

If you need to leave the calculator half way through, or get stuck and need some help, you can save what you have done so far, and come back to the same point later. Simply choose your own password, and put it in the space provided under 'Save and Come Back Later' at the bottom of the screen. The calculator will tell you what to do next.

Stuck? Get help

If you get stuck, simply click on the 'Stuck? Get help' link below the question you're on. This will tell you what to do next.

Trying different circumstances

The calculator will show the rent you should pay, and your benefit entitlement based on the information you give. But you can also use the calculator to see how these results would be affected by different circumstances. For example you may want to see what would happen if you got a new job, or if you retired, or if an adult who lives with you moved out. From the 'Your Results' screen at the end of the calculation, go to 'show your answers' at the bottom. This shows all the questions you have answered. If you want to change several answers you should 'restart' the calculation from the first question you want to change, then fill in the rest again. Or you can choose to 'alter' one answer only. For example if you have done a calculation saying that you are not working, you can change that answer and put in details for a new job. The results will show you how your rent and benefits would be affected.