Housing benefit: How to claim

Housing benefit or universal credit?

You can only make a new claim for housing benefit if either:

• you - and your partner if you live with them - are pension age
• you claim other benefits which include a severe disability premium
• you're staying in a refuge, hostel or some types of supported or temporary housing

You must claim universal credit instead if you can't claim housing benefit.

Mixed age couples

You're a mixed age couple if one of you is pension age and the other is working age.  

From 15 May 2019, you can't usually make a new housing benefit claim until you're both pension age.

Last updated 13 Aug 2019 | © Shelter

• Print this article
• Email this article