Housing benefit

If you are on a low income and you need help paying your rent, housing benefit or universal credit could help.

What you can claim

If you are of pension age you need to claim housing benefit.

If you are of working age most people will need to claim Universal Credit. Please visit the Government website to check.

The amount of housing benefit you can claim depends on:

  • If you have a spare bedroom 
  • Your household income – including benefits, pensions and savings (over £6,000)
  • Your circumstances – for example, age of people in the house, if someone has a disability.

If you have savings over £16,000, you can’t normally claim housing benefit.

If you rent your home from a private landlord, your housing benefit will be worked out using the Local Housing Allowance (LHA)

To find out if you can get help towards your rent and other living costs, please use the benefits calculator service.

If you receive some help with your housing costs, but are still struggling to pay your rent, you may be able to get some extra assistance in the form of a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP).

Apply for housing benefit

Find out how to submit a housing benefit claim:

Apply now

If your circumstances change

Already receiving housing benefit? If your circumstances change, you must tell us straight away or you could be open to prosecution.

Read more on our change of circumstances page

Page Last Updated: Wednesday, 06 September 2023 at 03:28 PM