Housing benefit

older lady in hallway

Housing Benefit helps pay your rent if you are a tenant. Housing Benefit could not only reduce your rent but also cover some service charges like lifts and communal laundry facilities.

Can I claim Housing Benefit?

  • Housing Benefit is a means-tested benefit, so what help you receive depends on your income and savings. It also depends on who you live with, how much rent you pay and how many rooms you have in your home.
  • You won't get Housing Benefit if you have more than £16,000 in savings - unless you get the Guarantee Credit part of Pension Credit, in which case the savings limit doens't apply. If you get Guarantee Credit, you may get your rent paid in full by Housing Benefit. If you don't get Guarantee Credit but have a low income and less than £16,000 in savings, you may still get some help.
  • Claiming benefits like Carers Allowance, Attendance Allowance and Disability Living Allowance can help you get more Housing Benefit.
  • If you own your home, you can't claim Housing Benefit. However, you may be eligible for Support with Mortgage Interest as part of Pension Credit.

Use our online benefits calculator to find out whether you could be eligible for Housing Benefit.

How to claim Housing Benefit

Contact your local council to claim. You may be able to apply in person, online, by telephone or by completing a form. You can apply for Housing Benefit at the same time as applying for Pension Credit.

opens link in new window Download our guide More money in your pocket: a guide to claiming benefits for people over pension age (PDF 3 MB)

opens link in new window Download our guide Claiming benefits: a guide for people of working age (PDF 1 MB)

opens link in new window Download our factsheet Housing Benefit (PDF 232 KB)

opens link in new window Download our factsheet Benefits for people under State Pension age (PDF 167 KB) 

We are grateful for the generous support of Dr Naim Dangoor CBE
and The Exilarch's Foundation

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Useful website

  • The Department for Work and Pensions is responsible for a range of benefits and services for pensioners and people planning pensions.

Useful information to download

  • The following factsheet is applicable to people over pension age.

     

    The following factsheet is applicable to people under pension age.
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