Housing benefit: hostels, refuges, temporary or supported housing

You can get housing benefit to help with rent in:

• a homeless hostel

• a domestic abuse refuge

• some types of supported housing

• emergency housing after a homeless application

• some types of temporary housing

You get housing benefit in these types of housing even if you get universal credit (UC) for your other living costs.

Housing benefit in a homeless hostel

You can usually claim housing benefit if you get support from staff in the hostel.

Support can be things like:

• sorting out debts or benefits

• help to find somewhere to live

• drug, alcohol or mental health support

You cannot get housing benefit for a backpackers' hostel or other hostels with no support.

Housing benefit in a domestic abuse refuge

Housing benefit helps to pay for your place in a refuge.

You could also get help with rent for up to a year on your main home. You must plan to go back there within a year.

If you get universal credit, the housing element helps with rent for the home you've left.

If you get housing benefit for your main home, tell the council why you're away.

If you cannot get benefits for immigration reasons

Some domestic abuse refuges have spaces for people even if you cannot get benefits.

Housing benefit in supported housing

Supported housing might be:

• a place you rent on your own

• a room in a shared house

You need to get staff support while you live there to get housing benefit.

Your landlord must be a housing association, charity, voluntary organisation or county council.

Some housing associations and other organisations lease properties from private landlords for supported housing. You can get housing benefit for this.

Housing benefit in temporary housing

You can get housing benefit in some temporary housing after a homeless application. This includes emergency housing.

Some councils and housing associations lease properties from private landlords for temporary housing. You can get housing benefit for this.

You usually get help with rent from universal credit if you pay rent straight to a private landlord. The amount is set by local housing allowance rates.

Housing benefit for other tenancies

You can make a new claim for housing benefit if you are pension age.

You cannot usually make a new claim for housing benefit if you're working age.

You could get a universal credit housing element instead.

How to apply for housing benefit

Start by speaking to your council. They give you a form to fill in.

They also tell you what evidence and information you need to show.

Examples of evidence can be:

• ID like a passport or driver's licence

• proof of your income or savings

• your tenancy or licence agreement

Other ID could include your birth certificate, marriage certificate, recent utility bills or letters from the DWP, HMRC or the Home Office.

You might need to show original documents. Some councils let you upload documents online.

When the council has all your information they should:

• put your housing benefit claim through

• pay the rent to your hostel, refuge or housing provider

Does housing benefit cover the full rent?

If you do not work, housing benefit pays for most of your housing costs.

If you work, your housing benefit goes down. You have to pay more of the rent yourself.

Ask support staff how much to pay if you're not sure.

Paying service charges

You may have to pay a service charge in some places.

Services charges can be for things like:

• staff support

• water and heating in your room

• breakfast and other meals if you get these where you live

Housing benefit does not pay for most service charges. You need to budget for your service charges from your other benefits or income.

Your agreement should say how much the service charge is and when to pay it. Ask your support staff if you do not understand the service charge.

Housing benefit pays for heating and lighting of shared areas.