Claiming Housing Benefit - Working Age

Eligibility

Housing Benefit can help you pay your rent if you’re unemployed, on a low income or claiming benefits. It’s being replaced by Universal Credit.

You can only make a new claim for Housing Benefit if either of the following apply:

You can make a new claim if:

you’re living in temporary accommodation, such as a B&B arranged by your council
you’re living in a refuge for survivors of domestic abuse
you’re living in sheltered or supported housing (such as a hostel) which provides you with ‘care, support or supervision’
If you do not get ‘care, support or supervision’ through your supported or sheltered housing, you can apply for Universal Credit to help with housing costs
If you’re in supported, sheltered or temporary housing, you can apply for Universal Credit to help with other living costs

Usually, you will not get Housing Benefit if:

your savings are over £16,000
you’re paying a mortgage on your own home - you may be able to get Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI)
you live in the home of a close relative
you’re already claiming Universal Credit (unless you’re in temporary or supported housing)
some full-time students
you’re residing in the UK as a European Economic Area (EEA) jobseeker
you’re an asylum seeker or sponsored to be in the UK
you’re subject to immigration control and your granted leave states that you cannot claim public funds
you’re a Crown Tenant
you’ve reached State Pension age but your live-in partner has not - unless you had an existing claim as a couple before 15 May 2019
If you would like to see how much you may be entitled to, you can use our calculator.
If you would like to claim, please fill out an online form