Housing Benefit (HB) is money you can claim to help you pay your rent if you’re on low wages or aren’t working. HB is paid by the Council and is separate from other benefits such as JSA and IS.
The rules about HB are complicated. You should get a leaflet with your HB form explaining how to apply.
If you’re 16 or 17 years old and have been in care you probably can’t claim HB. However if you are in this situation social services may have to support you financially until you’re 18, or 24 if you go on to full-time education.
To claim HB fill in a claim form and return it to the Council as soon as possible. It can take a while for HB to come through so the earlier you get your claim in the quicker you are likely to be paid.
HB claims will normally be back-dated to the day that the Council receives your form, so if you don’t claim straight-away, your benefit may not be paid from the date you move in. When you return your form ask for a receipt so you can prove you gave them the form on that particular day.
If you have given the Council all the information they need you’re entitled to some money after 14 days to help you cover your rent while the Council deals with your HB claim. If this payment doesn’t cover everything you owe, you’ll have to make up the difference.
HB often doesn’t cover all of your rent. Most single people under 25 who are paying rent to a private landlord will only get HB to pay for a single room in a shared house.
If your accommodation is considered to be too big or too expensive or if the rent includes things like water rates or bills you will normally have to make up the difference from your own money.
HB is normally paid by cheque or directly into a bank account at the end of every 4 weeks. If you’re a private tenant HB will be paid to you unless you ask for it to be paid directly to your landlord. Your landlord can also request this but it can’t usually be done without your agreement.