Turn2us - to access benefits & grants.

Housing Benefit – information for people who are sick or disabled

Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

Who does it help?

Housing Benefit is money paid by your local council to help you with your housing costs.  It can help with rent and some service charges.  It does not matter if your landlord is a private landlord or if you are a council tenant. It does not cover a mortgage. In Northern Ireland, it can help with rates.

Is it means-tested?

Whether you get Housing Benefit or not depends on your income and savings.  If you are disabled, you can have more income and still have the right to Housing Benefit.

If you are a student, you cannot usually get Housing Benefit but if you are a student with a disability, you might have the right to it.

Further help

More information about Housing  Benefit in England, Scotland or Wales.

More information about Housing  Benefit in Northern Ireland.

Your local council can give you more information about Housing Benefit if you are disabled.  You can find out more about  from your local council. You can find the contact details of your local council (link opens in a new window) on the Directgov website.

The Citizens Advice website (link opens in a new window) can give you more information about Housing Benefit.

Find an adviser tool.

See Long-term illness and disability

This information has been produced by Citizens Advice. 

Date of publication: 5 November 2008