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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.
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.
You can't usually get Housing Benefit if:
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.
If you think you may be eligible for Housing Benefit, the following link will let you enter details of where you live and then take you to your local authority website where you can find out more.
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.
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.
Eligible rent includes:
Even if it's included in your rent, you won't get any Housing Benefit for:
The amount of Housing Benefit you may get also depends on:
Your local council will look at:
Your council will also look at whether:
Your 'eligible' rent may be limited to an amount that's reasonable for a suitably sized property in the area you live.
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:
Contact your council if you're worried about how Housing Benefit is paid.
Housing Benefit won't affect any other benefits you get.
You can claim Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (including Second Adult Rebate) with your claim for the following benefits.
Call Jobcentre Plus on 0800 055 6688.
There's a Welsh language line on 0800 012 1888, and a textphone 0800 023 4888 if you find it hard to speak or hear clearly. Lines are open Monday to Friday from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm.
Jobcentre Plus will send details of your claims for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit to your local council.
You can claim Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (including Second Adult Rebate) with your claim for Pension Credit.
Call the Pensions, Disability and Carers Service on 0800 99 1234 or textphone 0800 169 0133.
Lines are open 8.00 am to 8.00 pm Monday to Friday and 9.00 am to 1.00 pm on Saturdays.
An adviser will help you apply for these benefits and let you know what happens next.
The Pensions, Disability and Carers Service will send details of your claims for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit to your local council.
If you’re not claiming Pension Credit, Income Support, Employment and Support Allowance or Jobseeker's Allowance you can get a form for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (including Second Adult Rebate) from your local council.
You can download a claim form, below, from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) website.
If you know you're moving to a new address, you can claim Housing Benefit up to 13 weeks (17 weeks if you're aged 60 or over) before you move.
You won't usually get any money before you move in.
You may be eligible to get your claim backdated. Your local authority can advise you on this.
The following links will let you enter details of where you live and then take you to your local authority website where you can find out more.
You must tell your local council if:
This is not a full list. Follow the links below to your local authority website to find out more. You have a responsibility to report changes in circumstances. Failure to do so could result in a fraud prosecution or losing your benefit.
You can get Housing Benefit when you get a job and earn a wage. You may also get other benefits and support to help you stay in work.
See 'Benefits and help when going back to work' to find out more.
If you're refused Housing Benefit or aren't happy with your council's decision you can ask them to reconsider.
If you're still unhappy with the outcome, you can appeal to an independent Unified Appeal Tribunal
Get benefits advice by using this online tool to answer questions about your situation
Have you been approached by a loan shark? You can report unlicensed lenders
