Apply for Housing Benefit

If you are working age you may not be able to claim Housing Benefit.

Instead you will have to make a claim for Universal Credit if you need help to pay your rent.

You may still get Housing Benefit if:

• You live in temporary accommodation
• You live in supported accommodation
• You are of pensionable age (unless you have a partner who is working age)

More information on Universal Credit can be found on GOV.UK website.

How much you get depends on your income and other circumstances such as your savings and other people who live with you.

GOV.UK benefits calculators

Check GOV.UK benefits calculators to see what you’re entitled to:

Who is not eligible?

You will not get Housing Benefit if:

• You receive the housing element in a Universal Credit payment
• You are a pensioner with a partner of working age
• Your savings are over £16,000 – unless you get Guarantee Credit of Pension Credit
• You live in the home of a close relative
• You’re a full-time student – unless you’re disabled, have children or of a pensionable age
• You are an EU citizen who does not have settled status in order to reside in the UK
• You’re an asylum seeker or sponsored to be in the UK
• You’re subject to immigration control and your granted leave states that you cannot claim public funds

Apply

We usually pay Housing Benefit and Council Tax support from the Monday after we get your claim but in some circumstances we can pay from an earlier date.

When applying for Local Council Tax Support (LCTS) and housing benefit there is a section within each application to request a backdate.

The maximum period we can backdate is:

• 1 month for Housing Benefit
• 3 months for Local Council Tax Support

Local Council Tax Support

If you are liable for Council Tax you may also be eligible for Local Council Tax Support, however you need to apply separately.

For further information and to apply visit:

• Local Council Tax Support for working age people