Housing benefit and local housing allowance

This content applies to England only.

Housing laws vary between England and Scotland. This page applies to England only. Get advice relating to Scotland

If you rent your home and have a low income or are claiming welfare benefits, you may be entitled to housing benefit to help you pay your rent. Local housing allowance is a new way of working out how much housing benefit you are entitled to if you rent from a private landlord.

Making a claim

If you think you might be entitled to help to pay your rent or your council tax, read this page to find out how to make a claim, the information you will need to provide, and how to make sure everything runs smoothly. Read more

What is housing benefit?

What does housing benefit cover? Who can claim housing benefit? When should I claim housing benefit? Read more

What is local housing allowance?

Local housing allowance is a new way of working out how much benefit you are entitled to if you rent your home from a private landlord. Read more

Housing benefit calculations

Housing benefit is paid by the council to help people pay their rent. The rules about how much housing benefit you may get are complicated, but this page may be able to help. Read more

Waiting for a benefit decision

Once you have handed in your form, you will have to wait for your claim to be processed. This page tells you what to expect while you are waiting and what to do if you haven't heard anything. Read more

Getting a benefit decision

Once your claim for housing benefit, local housing allowance and/or council tax benefit has been processed, you will receive a decision letter. This page tells you how to work out what the letter says and what you can do if you disagree with it. Read more

Arrears due to housing benefit

Were your arrears caused or made worse by problems wiht your housing benefit claim? Read more

Getting payments backdated

If you think that you may have been entitled to a housing-related benefit at any time during the last year and have a really good reason for not having claimed before, you may be able to get backdated benefit. Read more

Changes in circumstances

If you are getting benefits, any change in your circumstances may affect the amount that you are entitled to. Find out which changes you have to tell the housing or council tax benefit department about. Read more

Housing benefit after a sale and leaseback deal

Don’t rely on being able to claim housing benefit if you sell your house and rent it back. You may not be eligible for help. Read more

Discretionary housing payments

If you get some housing benefit or council tax benefit but are having difficulty paying the rest of your rent yourself, you may be able to get a discretionary housing payment. Read more

Challenging benefit decisions

If you receive a letter or an explanation of a decision that has been made about your claim that you do not agree with, you can get the decision looked at again. Read more

Housing benefit for young people

If you are between the ages of 16 and 25 and thinking about claiming housing benefit, find out more about how your age will affect your claim. Read more

Housing benefit for students

Most full-time students are not entitled to housing benefit but there are some exceptions. Read more

Housing benefit for two homes

Normally you can only get housing benefit for one home at a time. However, there are special circumstances where it may be possible to have housing benefit paid for more than one home. Find out what these circumstances are and how to apply. Read more

Housing benefit while away

You can get housing benefit while you are away from home for up to 13 weeks, so long as you intend to come back to your home and you are not likely to be away any longer. In special circumstances you may be able to get housing benefit for longer. Read more

Housing benefit and notice periods

Housing benefit usually stops the day you move out of your home. If you have to move out immediately, but still have to give your landlord notice that you are leaving, it may be possible to get housing benefit for up to four weeks after you move out. Read more