Housing benefit eligibility

If you’re on a low income, you might be able to get housing benefit to help you pay your rent.

As housing benefit is being replaced by universal credit, 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. 

To get housing benefit, you must:

• be at least 16 (18 if you’ve been in care)
• have less than £16,000 in savings or be getting the guarantee part of pension credit

If you live with your partner, only one of you needs to claim but you’ll need to include both people’s details in the application.

The rules for single people and couples over state pension age are different. 

If you’re single

Single people over state pension age can make a new claim for housing benefit. 

If you’re in a couple

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
• hostel
• refuge for domestic abuse survivors

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

• on a site with support staff
• with alarms and 24-hour emergency help
• 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 with an addiction 

No.

Only people who rent their accommodation can get housing benefit.

If you own your home and are struggling with mortgage payments, you might be able to get help through the support for mortgage interest (SMI) scheme.

This provides a loan to cover the interest on your mortgage, but it doesn’t help with the repayment of the capital you borrowed.

To qualify for SMI, you need to be receiving certain benefits, like income support, jobseeker’s allowance, employment and support allowance or universal credit.

Get in touch with your local Jobcentre Plus or the Department for Work and Pensions for more information on applying for SMI.

If you live with a close relative, such as a parent, child or sibling, and pay them rent, you can’t claim housing benefit.

That’s still the case even if you have a formal rental agreement with your family member.

You can only get housing benefit if your immigration status lets you access state benefits e.g. if you have: 

• settled status from the EU Settlement Scheme
• indefinite leave to remain
• refugee status or humanitarian protection

If you have pre-settled status, you need to show that you have a right to live and work in the UK to qualify for housing benefit.

If you’re unsure, seek advice from Citizens Advice or an immigration support service.

No, you’re not eligible for housing benefit if you’re studying full-time.

If you don’t qualify for housing benefit, you might still be eligible for universal credit. 
 

This can help with your housing costs as well as other living expenses.