- UK-wide
Housing Benefit
Help with rent paid by councils, mainly for people over State Pension age and for some people in specified supported housing; closed for most working-age claims, replaced by Universal Credit.
Overview
Housing Benefit is a means-tested benefit that helps with rent, administered by local councils. For most working-age claimants, it has been replaced by the housing element of Universal Credit, and new claims are no longer accepted except in limited circumstances. Two groups can still make new Housing Benefit claims: people who have reached State Pension age (where the claimant, or both partners in a couple, are pensioners), and people living in specified supported, sheltered, or temporary accommodation, where housing costs are paid through Housing Benefit rather than Universal Credit. The amount payable depends on eligible rent, household income, savings, and household size — with Local Housing Allowance rates applied to private rented accommodation and a size-criteria reduction (the under-occupancy charge, sometimes called the "bedroom tax") applied in social rented accommodation for working-age claimants. Savings above a set threshold disqualify the claim; savings between a lower and an upper threshold reduce it on a tariff basis. Housing Benefit is administered by the relevant local authority and rules vary slightly across the UK nations. Individual eligibility and amount are determined by the local council. This page references figures and criteria from the primary GOV.UK source; the authoritative source for any individual award remains the local authority.
Applies in UK-wide. Administered by Council. This page is general information; contact Council for your individual circumstances.
How this page was verified
- Checked against 1 primary source from Council and linked source records on this page.
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- Reviewed by Due to You editorial review under the editorial policy and methodology.
How the amount is calculated
Housing Benefit is a legacy benefit that helps pay the rent for people on low incomes. For most working-age people it has been replaced by the housing element of Universal Credit — but it still exists for three important groups: pensioners, people living in specified accommodation (supported or temporary housing), and anyone still on legacy benefits who has not yet been migrated to UC. The calculation differs materially by which group applies.
The calculation in outline
For pensioners claiming Housing Benefit alongside Pension Credit Guarantee Credit, the maths is generous — the full eligible rent is typically met, subject only to the local housing allowance (LHA) cap if you're in private-rented housing, and room-size restrictions. For working-age legacy claimants or specified-accommodation cases, the calculation looks at your applicable amount (a notional weekly need figure based on circumstances), compares it to your income, and applies a taper to any excess.
Local Housing Allowance — private renters
Private tenants have their eligible rent capped at the Local Housing Allowance rate for their Broad Rental Market Area (BRMA) and bedroom entitlement. BRMAs and LHA rates are set nationally and published in January each year, applying from April. The bedroom entitlement is: one bedroom for each adult couple; one for each adult; one for two same-sex children under 16; one for two opposite-sex children under 10; one additional bedroom for certain disability or care situations. LHA is paid directly to the tenant (not the landlord) in most cases.
Social tenants — the bedroom tax
Social housing tenants (councils and housing associations) face a different cap: the "removal of the spare room subsidy" — known as the bedroom tax. If you have more bedrooms than the bedroom allocation allows, your eligible rent is cut by 14% (one extra bedroom) or 25% (two or more). Certain exemptions apply: foster carers, adapted properties, and some disability-related situations.
The applicable amount
Your applicable amount is the baseline weekly need HB is calculating against. It consists of personal allowances (by age and household composition) plus any applicable premiums (disability premium, severe disability premium, enhanced disability premium, carer premium, family premium for some pre-2016 claims). For pensioners, this is set by the Pension Credit minimum guarantee. For working-age cases, the personal-allowance and premium structure is more granular.
Income and the taper
HB compares your weekly income (earnings after the personal earnings disregard; most other income pound-for-pound) against the applicable amount. If income equals or is less than the applicable amount, HB meets the eligible rent in full. If income exceeds the applicable amount, HB is reduced by 65% of the excess (the HB taper). This is the steepest taper in the system — materially steeper than UC's 55%.
Non-dependant deductions
If another adult (typically an adult child) lives with you, HB assumes they contribute to the rent and deducts a set weekly amount from your eligible rent. The deduction depends on the non-dependant's income. Deductions can be waived if the main claimant or their partner is blind or receives the middle/higher rate of AA, the daily living component of PIP, or equivalent.
Discretionary Housing Payment
If HB doesn't cover the full rent and you're struggling, apply to your council for a Discretionary Housing Payment. This is a top-up to bridge gaps — for the LHA cap, the bedroom tax, benefit cap effects, and arrears.
Worked examples
Illustrative scenarios with plausible household compositions. Figures are rounded for readability; run the triage or a calculator for a personal estimate.
Pensioner, Pension Credit Guarantee Credit, private rental
Edward, 78, widower, rents a one-bed flat in Birmingham at £720/month (£166/week). On Pension Credit Guarantee Credit.
Because he's on PC Guarantee Credit, he's "passported" — HB meets the full eligible rent subject to the Local Housing Allowance cap. In Birmingham, the Local Housing Allowance for a 1-bed rate in his area is roughly £180/week, so his £166/week rent is under the cap and fully met. Award: £166/week.
If his rent was £200/week (above LHA), HB would cap at the LHA rate and he'd need to find £20/week from elsewhere — potentially covered by a Discretionary Housing Payment from Birmingham City Council.
Working-age single parent, specified accommodation (refuge)
Layla, 34, two children, staying in a women's refuge. Rent (charged by the refuge for the accommodation plus support) approx £280/week.
Refuge accommodation is specified accommodation — housing costs are met through HB not UC. Layla claims HB from the local council; the council typically pays the refuge directly because it's the provider.
The high weekly cost (support services bundled into the charge) is usually met in full by HB for specified accommodation because LHA caps don't apply. She also claims the UC standard allowance and child element (UC without the housing element) for her and the children's other costs.
Common mistakes that cost claimants money
Pensioners not claiming because they're assumed to be on UC
HB for pensioners is alive and well. If you're over State Pension age (or in a mixed-age couple where the older partner is, depending on claim timing), you still claim HB. UC is for working age. Some councils receive HB claims in parallel with Pension Credit; some want a separate form; all still process them. Don't stop at "I was told UC is the new thing".
Under-claiming in supported or temporary accommodation
Specified accommodation (supported housing, refuges, temporary council housing) is outside the UC system — housing costs are met through HB not the UC housing element. If you're in this category, apply to the council. Don't let the council tell you to go to UC for housing.
Not reporting the arrival of a partner or non-dependant
Changes of household composition affect HB immediately. A partner moving in can change the applicable amount, the bedroom entitlement, and the income calculation. A new adult non-dependant adds a deduction. Reporting these changes late leads to overpayments, which the council will recover from ongoing HB.
Missing the backdating window
HB can be backdated up to a month for working-age claims and up to 3 months for pension age, if you had good cause for the delay. Many people claim as-of the date they submit the form, not realising they could ask for backdated entitlement for weeks they were already eligible but didn't apply.
Not applying for DHP when HB doesn't cover the rent
Discretionary Housing Payment is under-applied-for. The application is usually short, the award is discretionary but not negligible, and if you're in financial difficulty because of the LHA cap, the bedroom tax, or benefit cap bite, this is the specific tool designed to bridge the gap. Check your council's website.
What to have ready before you apply
- National Insurance number (and partner's if joint).
- Tenancy agreement — current copy, showing rent, start date, landlord name.
- Rent schedule or receipts for recent payments.
- Payslips for the last 3 months if working.
- Statements for all benefits you receive.
- Savings account statements for all accounts (to show balance as at claim date).
- Council tax bill — showing band and amount.
- If claiming a disability premium: the relevant disability-benefit award letter.
- If there are other adults in the household: their income details for the non-dependant deduction.
- Bank account details for payment if HB is paid to you rather than direct to landlord.
Eligibility criteria include
- IMMIGRATIONClaimants will usually not get Housing Benefit if they are residing in the UK as a European Economic Area (EEA) jobseeker. [GOV.UK]
- IMMIGRATIONClaimants will usually not get Housing Benefit if they are an asylum seeker or sponsored to be in the UK. [GOV.UK]
- AGEA single person can make a new claim for Housing Benefit if they have reached State Pension age. [GOV.UK]
- AGEA couple can make a new claim if both partners have reached State Pension age, or one has reached State Pension age and started claiming Pension Credit (as a couple) before 15 May 2019. [GOV.UK]
- HOUSING STATUSA new claim can be made if the claimant is living in supported, sheltered or temporary housing that provides 'care, support or supervision'. [GOV.UK]
- CAPITALClaimants will usually not get Housing Benefit if their savings are over £16,000, unless they receive Guarantee Credit of Pension Credit. [GOV.UK]
- HOUSING STATUSClaimants will usually not get Housing Benefit if they are paying a mortgage on their own home. [GOV.UK]
- HOUSEHOLDClaimants will usually not get Housing Benefit if they live in the home of a close relative. [GOV.UK]
- OTHERClaimants will usually not get Housing Benefit if they are already claiming Universal Credit, unless they are in temporary or supported housing. [GOV.UK]
- HOUSEHOLDClaimants will usually not get Housing Benefit if they live with a partner who is already claiming Housing Benefit. [GOV.UK]
- WORK STATUSClaimants will usually not get Housing Benefit if they are a full-time student. [GOV.UK]
- OTHERClaimants will usually not get Housing Benefit if they are a Crown Tenant. [GOV.UK]
- AGEThe benefit cap applies to most people aged 16 or over who have not reached State Pension age. [GOV.UK]
- INCOMEFor council and social housing, the amount of Housing Benefit depends on household income including benefits, pensions and savings over £6,000. [GOV.UK]
- HOUSING STATUSA new claim can be made if the claimant is living in temporary accommodation such as a B&B arranged by their council, a refuge for survivors of domestic abuse, or sheltered/supported housing providing 'care, support or supervision'. [GOV.UK]
- IMMIGRATIONClaimants will usually not get Housing Benefit if they are subject to immigration control and their granted leave states that they cannot claim public funds. [GOV.UK]
- AGEClaimants will usually not get Housing Benefit if they have reached State Pension age but their live-in partner has not, unless they had an existing claim as a couple before 15 May 2019. [GOV.UK]