Housing benefits

Who can claim it?

• You must have responsibility for paying the rent.
• If you are a couple‚ only one of you can claim it.
• You cannot usually be living in a close relative’s household.
• You need to have less than £16‚000 in savings. However‚ if you get Pension Guarantee Credit there is no savings limit and your rent is likely to be fully covered by the benefit. The main exception would be if you have someone living with you‚ e.g. a grown up son or daughter‚ who is expected to contribute to the rent.
• You must also be ‘habitually resident’ in the UK and not excluded from claiming because of your immigration status.

How to claim

You can get a claim form by contacting the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and requesting a Housing Benefit Application form. Telephone: 03448 920 902 or visit  Northern Ireland Housing Executive

Free benefit check

If you, or an older person you know needs advice, information or practical support on a wide range of issues including welfare benefits, community care, housing and health, contact the Age NI Advice Service on Freephone 0808 808 7575 to speak to a specialist advisor in confidence. Our advisors can provide a free benefit check to ensure that older people are accessing the benefits they are entitled to.

Last year our Advice Service dealt with more than 15,000 calls from older people in need.  Call the Age NI Advice Service today to make sure that you are receiving all the help and support available to you.