If you need help with your rent, you should claim this via Universal Credit unless you are in one of the following groups:
- live in supported accommodation
- live in temporary accommodation
- you, and your partner (if applicable) are both of pensionable age;
- you are a member of a mixed age couple and you have been continuously in receipt of housing benefit or Pension Credit since 15 May 2019.
If any of these apply, you will still be able to claim housing benefit to help with your rent. You can apply if you’re employed or unemployed, but if you live with a partner only one of you can get housing benefit.
Benefits calculator
Use the H&F Benefit calculator (entitledto.co.uk) to check your potential housing benefit or council tax support entitlement.
You can also use an independents benefits calculator to find out what benefits you could get. The government's benefits checker can help you find out about what other support you may be entitled to.
Usually you won’t get housing benefit if:
- your savings are over £16,000 - unless you get Guarantee Credit of Pension Credit
- you live in the home of a close relative
- you’re a full-time student - unless you’re disabled or have children
- you’re residing in the UK as a European Economic Area jobseeker
- you’re an asylum seeker or sponsored to be in the UK
- you’re subject to immigration control and your granted leave states that you can’t claim public funds
- you are in receipt of Universal Credit
The benefit cap puts a limit on the total amount of housing benefit that most working age people (over 16 but not have not yet reached state pension age) can get.
You can claim still council tax support from the council if you are on a low income. This is not included in Universal Credit.
Housing benefit or council tax support claim
If you have used the benefits calculator and think you are eligible to claim benefits, please use our online application form.
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Make a housing benefit or council tax support claim
Supporting documents
Depending on your circumstances, you may need to provide more information to support your application for housing benefit and council tax support, you will be asked to submit the supporting documents as you complete the form through the upload function. Please do not worry if you haven’t got the documents to hand you will be able to save your application and return to it anytime you wish until you are ready to submit. It's a good idea to save the form while you are filling it in as the form will time out if you don't interract with it for 20 minutes or more.
A link to your form and a case reference will be emailed to you when you have finished completing your application even if you have only completed in part.
You can resume your application by entering the case reference and your chosen password provided when you first saved the form.
Please complete all remaining questions when you return, confirm the details on the declaration page and then ‘Submit’ your application.
Please Note: Incomplete applications are only kept on our records for a limited amount of time and so do return at the earliest opportunity possible to complete the details. Should you fail to do so and your original application has been removed then you would need to start a new application.
Once we have processed your benefit application, you will be able to check your benefit details online via My Account. You will need to open a My Account and then link your benefit account.
Eligibility
You may get council tax support if:
- you are liable to pay council tax for your property
- are living in the property as your main home
- you are on a low income
- your savings are less than £16,000 (unless you’re receiving guaranteed pension credit)
- you are on state benefits (including universal credit)
- you are claiming a pension or over the pensionable age.
You may get housing benefit if you are a pensioner and:
- you pay rent
- you are on a low income
- your savings are less than £16,000 (unless you’re receiving guaranteed pension credit)
- you are on state benefits
- you are claiming a pension or over the pensionable age
Working age claimants may get housing benefit if:
- you are in temporary or supported housing
You will not be eligible for council tax support or housing benefit if:
- you are a full time student (unless you are disabled or have children)
- the property you want to claim for is not your main home
- you are an asylum seeker or do not usually live in the UK (for further details on this please go to the Chartered Institute of Housing website).