Housing benefit

If you’re unemployed or on a low income, you may be able to get housing benefit to help cover:

• your rent
• service charges

As housing benefit is being phased out, you can only make a new claim if one of the following apply:

• You’ve reached state pension age.
• You live in temporary housing.
• You live in sheltered housing.
• You live in supported housing.

Otherwise, you’ll need to apply for universal credit instead.

Be aware that the rules for single people and couples over state pension age are different.

If you’re single and over state pension age, you can make a new claim for housing benefit.

If you’re in a couple and over state pension age, you can only make a new claim if:

• you’ve both reached this age
• one of you has reached state pension age and started claiming pension credit (for you as a couple) before 15 May 2019
• you’re living in temporary, sheltered or supported housing

Temporary housing is short-term accommodation provided by the council, such as

• a B&B
• a hostel
• a refuge for domestic abuse survivors 

Sheltered housing is accommodation for elderly and disabled people who can live independently but still need some support. This includes:

• flats on a site manned by support staff
• homes with alarms and 24-hour emergency help
• homes with communal areas, such as gardens

Supported housing is accommodation for people with specific needs and vulnerabilities, such as: 

• young people leaving care
• people with mental health needs
• people coping with addiction

No.

Housing benefit helps certain people, such as pensioners or those in temporary housing, pay for their accommodation.

Universal credit is a payment for people under state pension age who are unemployed or on a low income. It includes money to cover the cost of housing, as well as things like childcare.

The amount you’ll get depends on things like: 

• how much rent you pay
• your income

 How much you get also depends on your personal situation, such as whether you have children or a disability.

 You can get an idea of what you could receive by using our benefits calculator.

You can claim housing benefit by getting in touch with your local council or as part of a pension credit claim.

Find contact details for your local council.

You won’t be able to get housing benefit if you have:

• a partner who already claims it
• a mortgage
• savings of £16,000 or more

 If you’re struggling with mortgage payments, check if you qualify for support for mortgage interest instead.

 The only exception if you have more than £16,000 in savings is if you’re on guarantee pension credit.

You also won’t be eligible if you’re: 

• living in a close relative’s home
• a full-time student
• an EEA jobseeker, asylum seeker or sponsored
• subject to immigration control
• renting or leasing government property

If you already claim universal credit, you can only get housing benefit if you’re in temporary or supported housing. You’ll get this rather than the housing element of universal credit.