Housing Benefit

Housing Benefit is a government benefit that helps people on low incomes with the cost of their rent. It can cover rent for both housing association properties and privately rented accommodation. If you or someone in your household has a low income, you may be eligible to receive Housing Benefit to help with rent payments.

Who can claim Housing Benefit?

You may qualify for Housing Benefit if any of the following apply to you:

• You are single and have reached State Pension age.
• You and your partner have both reached State Pension age.
• You are in council-placed emergency or temporary accommodation.
• You live in sheltered or supported housing.

If none of these apply to you but you need help with your rent, then you’ll need to claim Universal Credit.

What You Need to Know Before Applying for Housing Benefit

Before you apply for Housing Benefit, here are a few key points to keep in mind:

•       If you have savings or capital over £16,000, you won’t qualify, unless you receive Guaranteed Pension Credit.
•       Your income (wages, benefits, pensions) will also be considered when calculating your benefit entitlement.
•       The amount of rent you pay and your household composition (how many people live with you) will affect the benefit you could receive. If you have adults living with you other than your partner, we may need to calculate a non-dependant deduction. This is a contribution based on their income that could reduce the amount of Housing Benefit you receive.

How to Claim

Start a housing benefit claim using the below online form:

 Apply for housing benefit 

When completing your application, you will need to provide evidence of your income, savings, and any benefits you receive. At the end of your application, you’ll see a checklist of required documents and the option to upload them immediately. If you are unable to upload them right away, you can email the documents to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. within one month. Make sure to include your reference number in the email so we can link the documents to your claim.

If you don’t have electronic versions of documents you need, you can use a tablet or smartphone to take clear photos of paper copies and email them to us.

Payments

Housing Benefit payments are usually made directly into your bank account on a fortnightly basis. If you don’t have a bank account, you’ll need to open one. Visit the Citizens Advice website for information and advice on how to open a bank account.

If you rent from a housing association, you can request that we pay your landlord directly at any time and this will be paid in a four-weekly cycle.

For private renters who find it difficult to manage payments, we can consider paying your landlord directly. To request this, you can either discuss it with us or pdf download and complete the direct payments to landlord form. (240 KB)

Backdating Housing Benefit

• Working Age Claimants: You can ask for your claim to be backdated for up to 1 month before the date of your application but only if there’s a valid reason you didn’t apply sooner (e.g., illness, language barriers, or family bereavement).
• ·     Pension Age Claimants: We can automatically consider backdating Housing Benefit for up to 3 months from the date of application without the need to show good cause. However, you will need to provide proof of your income and capital for this period.

If you want to request backdating, you can do this through the online application form or by submitting a request in writing to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..