Housing Benefit

Who can get Housing Benefit

You can only make a claim for Housing Benefit if any of the following apply:

  • you and your partner (if you have one) are both of state pension age
  • you live in a hostel or refuge
  • you live in supported or exempt accommodation that includes care, support, or supervision
  • you live in temporary accommodation provided by the local authority

Apply online

If you are of working age and the above does not apply, you will need to make a claim for housing costs through Universal Credit.

Housing costs and Universal Credit: How to claim - GOV.UK

The amount of Housing Benefit you receive will depend on:

  • the amount of rent you pay
  • what is included in the rent
  • the income of you and your partner
  • the savings of you and your partner
  • the number of children living with you
  • other people in your household and their income
  • any disabilities
  • how many bedrooms your family needs

Important information about your claim

We cannot process your Housing Benefit claim until we have received all the required information.

If we need more details, we will contact you by email or letter. Please make sure you respond and provide all the information we ask for.

Once your claim has been processed, we will send you a notification letter.