Housing Benefit
If you're on a low income and need financial help to pay all or part of your rent, you may be able to get Housing Benefit.
Who is eligible?
You may get Housing Benefit if you pay rent and your income and capital (savings and investments) are below a certain level.
If you rent from a private landlord there's a new way of working out Housing Benefit - known as Local Housing Allowance.
Who isn't eligible?
You can't usually get Housing Benefit if:
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you have savings of over £16,000, unless you are aged 60 or over and getting the 'guarantee credit' of Pension Credit
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you live in the home of a close relative
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you're a full-time student (unless you're disabled or have children)
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you're an asylum seeker or are sponsored to be in the UK
Other restrictions
If you live with a partner or civil partner only one of you can get Housing Benefit.
If you're single and aged under 25 you can only get Housing Benefit for bed-sit accommodation or one room in shared accommodation.
How to check eligibility
If you think you may be eligible for Housing Benefit, the following link will let you enter details of where you live and then take you to your local authority website where you can find out more.
Check your eligibility for Housing Benefit with your local council
How to claim
You're assessed for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit at the same time.
If you're already claiming other benefits
You'll get a form to claim Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (including Second Adult Rebate) with your claim pack if you're claiming any of the following benefits:
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Employment and Support Allowance
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Income Support
You should complete and return your Housing Benefit claim form to your local council.
If you're not claiming other benefits
If you don't claim Pension Credit, Income Support, Employment and Support Allowance or Jobseeker's Allowance you can get a form for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (including Second Adult Rebate) from your local council.
Download a claim form
Or you can download a claim form, below, from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) website.
Source: www.direct.gov.uk
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