Housing Benefit

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 For most working-age claimants, it has been replaced by the housing element of Universal Credit, and new claims are no longer accepted except in limited circumstances.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.

Eligibility criteria include

• IMMIGRATION
  Claimants will usually not get Housing Benefit if they are residing in the UK as a European Economic Area (EEA) jobseeker. ^[GOV.UK]
• IMMIGRATION
  Claimants will usually not get Housing Benefit if they are an asylum seeker or sponsored to be in the UK. ^[GOV.UK]
• AGE
  A single person can make a new claim for Housing Benefit if they have reached State Pension age. ^[GOV.UK]
• AGE
  A 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 STATUS
  A new claim can be made if the claimant is living in supported, sheltered or temporary housing that provides 'care, support or supervision'. ^[GOV.UK]
• CAPITAL
  Claimants will usually not get Housing Benefit if their savings are over £16,000, unless they receive Guarantee Credit of Pension Credit. ^[GOV.UK]
• HOUSING STATUS
  Claimants will usually not get Housing Benefit if they are paying a mortgage on their own home. ^[GOV.UK]
• HOUSEHOLD
  Claimants will usually not get Housing Benefit if they live in the home of a close relative. ^[GOV.UK]
• OTHER
  Claimants will usually not get Housing Benefit if they are already claiming Universal Credit, unless they are in temporary or supported housing. ^[GOV.UK]
• HOUSEHOLD
  Claimants will usually not get Housing Benefit if they live with a partner who is already claiming Housing Benefit. ^[GOV.UK]
• WORK STATUS
  Claimants will usually not get Housing Benefit if they are a full-time student. ^[GOV.UK]
• OTHER
  Claimants will usually not get Housing Benefit if they are a Crown Tenant. ^[GOV.UK]
• AGE
  The benefit cap applies to most people aged 16 or over who have not reached State Pension age. ^[GOV.UK]
• INCOME
  For council and social housing, the amount of Housing Benefit depends on household income including benefits, pensions and savings over £6,000. ^[GOV.UK]
• HOUSING STATUS
  A 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]
• IMMIGRATION
  Claimants 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]
• AGE
  Claimants 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]

Sources