Housing benefits tenants are being forced to find an extra £44 every month to meet rising private rents and put a roof over their heads, new analysis suggests.

Local Housing Allowance is a housing benefit payment made to those eligible for Universal Credit and is meant to cover the cheapest 30 per cent of rooms in a shared house on the private rental market.

The figures show people renting from private landlords who are eligible for housing benefits in Blackburn with Darwen will receive £281 per month from the local housing allowance this year.

The median rent for a room in a shared house in Blackburn with Darwen is £325, while the cheapest 25 per cent of rents cost up to £325.

Housing allowance would cover just 86 per cent of that price, leaving people needing to find an extra £44 per month to put a roof over their heads.

Across the country, just one in 13 local authorities provide sufficient housing benefits to afford the cheapest quarter of rental properties, while the average shortfall is more than £90 per month, though many areas top £100.

A Department for Work and Pensions spokesperson said: "During the pandemic, we increased Local Housing Allowance significantly and beyond inflation, benefiting over 1 million households by an average of over £600 over the year.

"We’re maintaining that boost, keeping support for private renters above pre-pandemic levels.

"The benefit cap provides a strong work incentive and ensures fairness for hard-working taxpaying households by encouraging people to move into work where possible. It balances fairness for taxpayers with providing a vital safety net."

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council have been contacted for comment.