Housing Benefit
If you're on a low income, whether you're working or not, and need financial help to pay all or part of your rent, you may be able to get Housing Benefit. Find out more, including who is eligible and how to claim.
Who is eligible
You may get Housing Benefit if you pay rent and your income and capital (savings and investments) are below a certain level. You could qualify if you are out of work, or in work and earning a wage.
Use the online benefits adviser to get an estimate of the benefits, including Housing Benefit, you may get.
Who isn't eligible
You can't usually get Housing Benefit if:
- you have savings of over £16,000, unless you are aged 60 or over and getting the 'guarantee credit' of Pension Credit
- you live in the home of a close relative
- you're a full-time student (unless you're disabled or have children)
- you're an asylum seeker or are sponsored to be in the UK
Other restrictions
If you live with a partner or civil partner only one of you can get Housing Benefit.
If you're single and aged under 25 you can only get Housing Benefit for bed-sit accommodation or one room in shared accommodation.
Important changes for people receiving Child Benefit
Child Benefit is no longer counted as income when working out how much Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit you can get. This means that some people currently receiving Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit payments will receive more benefit with which to pay their rent and council tax. In addition, some low income families may now get Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit as a result of this change.
If you think you may now be entitled, contact your local council.
How much do you get?
If you rent a property or room from a private landlord, your Housing Benefit will be calculated with the Local Housing Allowance rules.
If you live in council accommodation or other social housing, the most Housing Benefit you can get is the same as your 'eligible' rent.
What is 'eligible' rent?
Eligible rent includes:
- rent for the accommodation
- charges for some services, such as lifts, communal laundry facilities or play areas
Even if it's included in your rent, you won't get any Housing Benefit for:
- water charges
- charges for heating, hot water, lighting, or cooking
- payments for food or fuel in board and lodgings or hostels
The amount of Housing Benefit you may get also depends on:
Your personal and financial circumstances
Your local council will look at:
- money you and your partner or civil partner have coming in, including earnings, some benefits and tax credits, and occupational pensions
- your savings (and your partner's or civil partner's savings)
- your circumstances: such as your age, the size of your family and their ages, whether you or any of your family are disabled, and whether anyone who lives with you could help with the rent
The particulars of your home and the rent you pay
Your council will also look at whether:
- the amount of rent is reasonable for your particular home
- your home is a reasonable size for you and your family
- the amount of rent is reasonable for the area where you live
Your 'eligible' rent may be limited to an amount that's reasonable for a suitably sized property in the area you live.
How it's paid
If you are a council tenant, your council will pay any Housing Benefit straight into your rent account.
If you're not a council tenant, your Housing Benefit will be paid:
- to you by cheque
- by Direct Payment into your bank or building society account
Effect on benefits
Housing Benefit won't affect any other benefits you get.
How to claim
You can claim Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (including Second Adult Rebate) with your claim for the following benefits.
- Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Support
- Jobseeker's Allowance
- Call Jobcentre Plus on 0800 055 6688.