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Housing Benefit in England, Wales and Scotland

You can read through this information sheet, or go directly to the sections you want to read by clicking on these links:

• Who does it help? 
• What help does it provide?
• How much does it pay?
• How do I make a claim?
• What documents will I need?
• Can it be backdated?
• Challenging decisions
• Change of circumstance
• Further Help

Who does it help?

You have to be the person who is responsible for paying the rent to get Housing Benefit.  It does not matter if your landlord is a private landlord or if you are a council tenant. 

Housing Benefit does not cover a mortgage. See Housing Costs.

You do not qualify for Housing Benefit if you live in the home of a close relative or if you are a full-time student (unless you have a disability or have children). 

If you are single, don't have any dependent children and are aged under 35, you can only get Housing Benefit for one room in shared accommodation.

If you live with a partner, only one of you can claim Housing Benefit.

You might be able to get Housing Benefit automatically if you are getting certain other benefits.

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What help does it provide?

If you are a council tenant, you will not be paid Housing Benefit directly. Instead it will be taken off the rent you have to pay so you pay less rent, or no rent yourself.

If you have a private landlord, you will be paid by cheque (to cash at a post office) or straight into your bank account.  Sometimes the council can pay your landlord directly.

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How much does it pay?

If you get benefits like Income Support, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, or the guarantee part of Pension Credit, you will get the maximum amount of Housing Benefit, which could cover the whole of your rent.

Even if you are working, you might get some Housing Benefit to cover some of your rent. This depends on your income and savings and on your personal circumstances.

Remember that even if you get the maximum amount of Housing Benefit, it will not necessarily cover all of your rent. If you are a private tenant, a rent officer will calculate how much rent can be paid by Housing Benefit. They might decide that not all of your rent can be paid by Housing Benefit because your home is larger than you need or too expensive. If this is the case, you will have to make up the difference yourself or find cheaper accommodation.

If you are a private tenant visit the HB update website (link opens in new window) to find out what your eligible rent is.

The Turn2us Benefits Checker can calculate how much Housing Benefit you may be entitled to.

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Housing Benefit (England, Wales, Scotland)

How do I make a claim?

Online Claim

You may be able to claim online if your local authority offers this facility.

Telephone Claim

You may be able to claim by telephone if your local authority offers this facility.

Paper Claim

Get a claim form by contacting your local authority Housing Benefit office.

If you are making a claim for Income Support, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, or Pension Credit you can claim Housing Benefit at the same time, your details will be sent direct to your local authority.

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Rapid reclaims

To make a claim, you may be able to fill in a shortened form known as a 'rapid reclaim'. To fill in a rapid reclaim, you must have made a claim for Income Support, Incapacity Benefit or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance before, within the last 26 weeks. You must also be claiming this benefit again and your circumstances must not have changed since your last claim.

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What documents will I need?

When you claim Housing Benefit, you must give your national insurance number and evidence of who you are, for example, a birth certificate or driving licence.  You also need to give evidence that you must pay the rent, for example, your rent book.  If you are not claiming benefits like Income Support, you must give evidence of your income and savings, for example, bank statements or pay slips.

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Can it be backdated?

Housing Benefit can be backdated for up to six months if you would have been entitled to it earlier. You have to show a good reason for not claiming sooner. Request this when claiming.

If you or your partner are over 60, and you are not getting Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, your claim can be backdated for up to three months. It does not matter why your claim is late. Request this when claiming.

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Housing Benefit (England, Wales, Scotland)

Challenging decisions

If you disagree with the decision made on your benefit claim you can ask for a written statement of reasons. If you still believe the decision is wrong, for example due to incorrect information being used, you can ask for it to be looked at again, and/or appeal.

The time limits are strict; you will usually be given one month to dispute a decision, so it is important to seek advice and act quickly.

Further information on Challenges and complaints

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Change of circumstance

You must report changes in your circumstances which might affect your entitlement to this benefit.

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This information has been produced by Citizens Advice. 

LastUpdated: 6 January 2012