Housing Benefit is paid by the local Council to help with your rent. It is sometimes called rent rebate or rent allowance. It does not cover costs other than housing costs, for example, mortgage interest if you are buying your home. If you get Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or Pension Credit (Guarantee) you may be able to get help with these other housing costs as part of your benefit.

You may be entitled to it if you are:

On a low income.

Paying rent.

Not working.

You do not have to get any other benefits to claim Housing Benefit.

Savings over £16,000 usually mean you will not be able to get Housing Benefit, although this £16,000 limit does not apply if you or a partner get Pension Credit (Guarantee).

Savings over £6,000 will usually affect how much Housing Benefit you can get.

There are special rules if you are single and aged under 25 years. (single room rent restrictions)

Some asylum seekers and people who are sponsored to be in the UK cannot get Housing Benefit.

You cannot usually get Housing Benefit if you live in a close relative's household.

You cannot usually get Housing Benefit if you are a full-time student, unless you are disabled or have children.

To work out your Housing Benefit, the Council will look at:

Money you and your partner have coming in, including earnings, some benefits, tax credits and things like occupational pensions

Your savings and your partner's savings

Your circumstances, such as your age, the ages and size of your family, whether you or any of your family are disabled, and whether anyone who lives with you could help with the rent.

The Council will also look at whether:

The amount of rent is reasonable for your particular home

Your home is a reasonable size for you and your family

The amount of rent is reasonable for the area your home is in.

Note:

Local Housing Allowance (LHA) was introduced for all new private lets taken out after April 2008 this will effect entitlement to Housing Benefit for all new private tenents claiming Housing Beneift after this date contact your local Council for your local LHA rates.

The most Housing Benefit you can get is the same as your eligible rent, although for LHA claimants they are allowed to keep up to £15 weekly of any excess Housing Benefit paid. This may not be the same as your full rent. The rates used to work out your Housing Benefit payment are generally the same as the allowance and premiums that make up Income Support and income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA).

There are a few exceptions listed below.

Only use the amounts shown as a guide.

Weekly amounts:

Deductions for non-dependants

Aged 18 or over, not in remunerative work

or

aged 25 or over and receiving Income Support

or

income-based JSA

or

gross income less than £116

deduction = £7.40

Aged 18 or over and in remunerative work with gross income of:

Less than £116 deduct £7.40

£116 to £171.99 deduct £17.00

£172 to £222.99 deduct £23.35

£223 to £295.99 deduct £38.20

£296 to £368.99 deduct £43.50

£369 and over deduct £47.75

If you are eligible, claim straight away. If you delay you may lose benefit.

You can claim up to 13 weeks before you become entitled to Housing Benefit., so if you know you are moving to a new address soon, you can claim Housing Benefit. You will not usually receive any money before you move in.

If you claim Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance or Pension Credit you will get forms to claim Housing Benefit with your claim pack. Complete and return the form with your Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance or Pension Credit claim form.

If you do not claim Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance or Pension Credit you can get forms for Housing Benefit from your local Council.

DISCLAIMER - Although every effort is made to ensure the information on these pages is accurate and up to date, we cannot be held liable for any inaccuracies and their consequences. The information should not be treated as a complete and authoritative statement of the law. If you wish to know more about your benefit rights, you should seek independent advice.