Housing Benefit

If you’re on a low income and struggling to cover your rent, you could claim Housing Benefit. 

What is Housing Benefit?

Housing Benefit is money to help people on a low income to cover their rent.

You can make a new claim for Housing Benefit if you're State Pension age or over. If you have a partner, you can only usually make a new claim for Housing Benefit when you both reach State Pension age.

If you and your partner aren't State Pension age and you need help with paying your rent, you can only claim Housing Benefit if you live in supported, sheltered or temporary housing. Otherwise, you'll need to make a claim for Universal Credit instead.

How much money could I get?

Housing Benefit is a means-tested benefit. This means the amount you can get depends on:

• your savings
• who you live with
• how much rent you pay
• how many rooms you have in your home
• if you get disability or carer’s benefits (such as Carer’s Allowance, Attendance Allowance or Personal Independence Payment.

How could Housing Benefit help me?

Rent can eat up a big chunk of income each month, especially if you’re a pensioner struggling to pay other living costs. Housing Benefit could help you to meet those costs and save you some worry. 

Am I eligible to claim Housing Benefit?

You could get Housing Benefit if:

• you pay rent
• you’re on a low income or claiming benefits
• you have savings of less than £16,000

If you get the Guarantee Credit part of Pension Credit your income and savings are not taken into account so you may get your rent paid in full by Housing Benefit.

If you own your home, you won’t be eligible for Housing Benefit, but you could get support with your mortgage interest as part of Pension Credit instead. 

How can I claim Housing Benefit?

How to claim Housing Benefit depends on which other benefits you're currently claiming.

If you already claim Pension Credit

Contact the Pension Service to apply for Housing Benefit with your claim for Pension Credit.

If you're not claiming other benefits

Apply for Housing Benefit through your local council. You’ll need to request a claim form – unless your local council accepts online applications.

You'll need to give evidence to go with your claim, such as proof of your identity and of your income and savings, so it's worth gathering this together before you get started.

It's important that you're as specific as you can be when answering the questions in the claim form.

You can contact Age Cymru Advice if you need help completing the claim form.

It's a good idea to keep track of your claim – make notes of who you speak to and when, and check that the council has everything they need from you.

It shouldn't take longer than 14 days for the council to contact you and let you know their decision.

What if my claim is turned down?

If your claim is turned down, ask your local Age Cymru for help or see our page on challenging benefits decisions

What should I do next?