Apply for Housing Benefit

Housing Benefit

Housing Benefit is available to those who are on a low income and need support towards paying their rent.

Before you apply for Housing Benefit, ensure you are eligible to make a claim as you may need to make a claim for Universal Credit instead.

You can make a claim for Housing Benefit if you meet at least one of the following criteria:

• You are pension age (and so is your partner, if applicable).
• You live in supported exempt or temporary accommodation.

If you are soon to be State Pension age, you can make a claim for Housing Benefit up to 13 weeks in advance.

If you are working age and not living in supported or temporary accommodation, you will need to make a claim for Universal Credit Housing Costs.

Find more information on how to claim Universal Credit

Apply for Housing Benefit

If you are pension age, you can also use this form to make a claim for Local Council Tax Support.

If you are working age and want to claim support towards paying your Council Tax, submit a separate form through our Apply for Local Council Tax Support page.

What we might need from you:

• Evidence of your income.
• Evidence of your savings.
• Evidence of your rent.

To provide you with this service, we may need to collect some specific, relevant personal information

We take our responsibilities under data protection seriously to ensure that any personal information we collect and use is done so proportionately, correctly and safely. Records of this information will be kept in line with our retention schedule.

Useful links

• Age UK
• Citizens Advice
• Universal Credit
• Pension Credit
• Discretionary Housing Payment