Housing benefit is a national scheme to help you pay your rent.
If you are of working age
You will need to apply for Universal Credit for help with your housing costs unless you live in:
- supported accommodation
- temporary accommodation provided or arranged through the council
If you are a pensioner or live in supported or temporary accommodation
You can claim housing benefit if you have a low income of any type. This includes those who work for an employer or who are self-employed.
The amount you receive will be based on your income and circumstances. Housing benefit is worked out and paid by your local council but the rules about entitlement are set by government.
Benefits calculators
Use a benefits calculator to find out how much you might be able to claim.
Remember this calculation is an estimate based on the information you provide.
Find benefits calculators on GOV.UK.
Who cannot get housing benefit
You cannot get housing benefit if you:
- pay rent to a close relative who lives with you
- live in a care home, nursing home or elderly persons’ home
- rent a home from your ex-partner and you both used to live there
- are the parent or guardian of your landlord’s child
- live in the home as part of your job
- are an asylum seeker who has not been given refugee status or indefinite or exceptional leave to remain in the UK
- have been admitted to the UK on condition that you have ‘no recourse to public funds’
- are a sponsored immigrant who has lived here for less than 5 years
- are in the UK illegally or your permission to stay has run out
- or your partner have more than £16,000 in savings, unless you receive Guaranteed Pension Credit
You may not be eligible for housing benefit if you:
- used to live with your landlord as a family member, relative or friend and now pay that person rent
- live in a property that is run by a religious order of which you are a member
- rent from a trust and you are a trustee or beneficiary of the trust
- rent the property from a company of which you are a director or employee
- used to own the property which you now rent
- have a second property elsewhere
- are a student
- are a prisoner
- are absent from your home
- have come to live in the UK within the last 2 years