Housing Benefit helps people on a low income who are renting their homes to pay their rent.
Universal Credit has replaced Housing Benefit for most new claimants, and you can only apply for Housing Benefit if one of the exceptions below applies. If not, you will have to claim Universal Credit instead and if you are eligible, your housing costs will be included as part of your award.
If you have applied to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for Universal Credit, and are liable to pay Council Tax at the property you live in, you will also need to apply to the council for Council Tax Reduction.
Can I claim?
You can claim, but you may have to claim Universal Credit instead of Housing Benefit for help towards paying your rent.
You can only make a claim for Housing Benefit if one of the following applies:
- You live in supported or exempt accommodation
- You live in temporary accommodation
- You or your partner are pension age – for more information see Benefits for mixed aged couples.
If you do not fall into one of the above categories, you need to claim Universal Credit (external link) instead.
You must also normally live at the property you are applying for and be liable to pay rent for the property.
If you have more than £16,000 in savings, you usually won't qualify for any benefit.
How do I make a claim?
You can make a new claim for housing benefit and/or council tax reduction online.
How do you work it out?
Each year the Government gives us guideline figures showing the amount of money people should have to meet their basic needs. These figures vary depending on your circumstances. The amount of benefit may be reduced if there are other adults living in the household, for example non dependant children over the age of 18.
How much can be awarded?
The amount of Housing Benefit you may receive depends on:
- Who is in your household
- The amount of money you have coming in
- Other benefits you receive
- Any savings you have.
If you rent from a private landlord your Housing Benefit is calculated using a Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rate. The maximum benefit you can receive is the LHA rate or your actual rent. You will receive the lower of these two amounts.
If you rent from the council the amount you may receive will depend on:
- Your ‘eligible rent’ (actual rent plus any service charges but excludes utility costs)
- If you have a spare room
- Your household income
- Your circumstances (such as age of people in your household or if someone has a disability).
Find out how much Housing Benefit you may get using our online calculator (external link).
Can I get extra help paying my rent?
If you do not qualify for full housing benefit, you may have to pay something towards the cost of your rent.
You may be able to get a Discretionary Housing Payment to help towards these payments.
Backdated claims
If you think you have valid reason for a late claim, you can request backdated benefit by completing our online application form (external link) for the period in question.
What happens if my circumstances change?
You need to let us know straight away, otherwise you may receive too much or too little benefit.
You can let us know about a change in circumstances by completing our online change of circumstances form (external link).
What happens if I don’t agree with your decision?
When we have decided your claim we will send you a notification letter, which will advise you of the outcome. The letter will include all of the details we have used to work out your benefit entitlement, so it is important that you check that the information is correct. You must let us know within one calendar month if you do not agree with the decision.
You can ask for an explanation of our decision, ask us to reconsider our decision or appeal against our decision. Further information is available on our Housing Benefit Disputes and Appeals page.