Housing Benefit & Local Housing Allowance

Housing benefit is help given to people on a low income to reduce the amount of rent they have to pay to their landlord.

The rules are set nationally but your local council adminisiters the scheme.

Who can claim Housing Benefit ?

You can claim if you :

• pay rent to a housing association or local authority
• live in a hostel, caravan, mobile home or houseboat
• pay a rent that has been registered as a 'fair rent'
• have a tenancy that began before 1989
• live in accomodation where a large part of the rent is for board and attendance

Who will qualify for Housing Benefit ?

You may qualify for Housing Benefit if you:

• are on a low income
• are working full or part time and earning a low wage
• have savings under £16,000.00 (however if you are in receipt of pension credit guarantee this limit does not apply)
• are receiving state benefits

I rent from a private landlord

If you rent from a private landlord and make a new claim for housing benefit, have a break in your exisiting housing benefit claim, or move to privately rented accommodation your claim will be assessed under the rules for Local Housing Allowance

How much Housing Benefit can I get?

If you (and your partner if you are a couple) are on a low income, you can get up to the full amount of your rent. However it could be reduced if:

• you are under pension age, live in a council or housing association home and have one or more 'spare' bedrooms. This is called under occupancy
• your rent includes a service charge, such as money for things like heating or meals
• the Rent Officer decides that your rent is above the typical rent for suitably sized accommodation in the area. Details about how the Rent Officer makes these decisions can be found on the Valuation Office Agency website
• you have other adults in your household, for example grown up children, other relatives or friends. These are known as non-dependants
• your income is more than the rules say you need to live on