Housing Benefit (Northern Ireland) - How much Housing Benefit will I get?

It can be complicated to work out how much Housing Benefit you might get. You can use the Turn2us Benefits Calculator which will calculate how much Housing Benefit you may be entitled to.

The amount you are entitled to depends on your income and savings, and on your personal circumstances.

If you get the guarantee part of Pension Credit, you will get your maximum amount of Housing Benefit. Remember that even if you get your maximum amount of Housing Benefit, it will not necessarily cover all of your rent.

Private tenants

If you are a private tenant, how much rent can be paid by Housing Benefit will be restricted by the Local Housing Allowance (LHA).

Your Local Housing Allowance rate is based on rental prices in your area and the size of property you are entitled to. This might mean that not all of your rent can be paid by Housing Benefit because your rent is considered to be too expensive.

If you are a private tenant, you can visit the LHA Direct website to find out what your Local Housing Allowance is.

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

Deductions for other adults

If you have other adults living with you who aren’t your partner and do not have to pay rent, they might be treated as your non-dependent. This means that an amount will be taken off your Housing Benefit because this other person is expected to help with the rent. 

You won’t have money taken off your Housing Benefit for a non-dependent if:

• You (or your partner) are certified blind or severely sight impaired
• You (or your partner) receive Attendance Allowance, Pension Age Disability Payment (Scotland) the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Adult Disability Payment (Scotland), the care component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP).

You also won’t have any money taken off your Housing Benefit for any other adult who:

• Is a full time student; or
• Is under 18; or
• Is under 25, getting Universal Credit and isn’t earning anything, or
• Gets Pension Credit

If money is taken off your Housing Benefit for another adult, how much is taken off depends on the other adult’s earnings. It is important to make sure the council has accurate information about the other adult’s earnings so they can make the right decision about your housing benefit.

Benefit Cap

Housing Benefit for people above state pension age is not included in the Benefit Cap. See our Benefit Cap guide for more details.

How will I be paid Housing Benefit?

If you are a NIHE tenant, you will have your rent reduced by your Housing Benefit amount.

If you have a private landlord or are in a housing association property, you will be paid straight into your bank or building society or through the Payment Exception Service if you are unable to open or manage one of these or a similar account. You can also request that the NIHE pay your landlord directly.

Housing Benefit is usually paid in arrears every week, two weeks, four weeks or a month, depending on when your rent is usually due.

Housing Benefit and other benefits

Housing Benefit counts in full as income when calculating your entitlement to other means-tested benefits .