Housing Benefit 2026: Who Can Still Claim & How Much You'll Get

Do you qualify?

You may still be able to claim Housing Benefit directly if you're pension age, live in temporary or supported accommodation, or currently receive Housing Benefit and haven't been migrated to UC yet.

Who can claim	Pension-age claimants, people in temporary/supported accommodation, and existing claimants not yet migrated to UC.
Renters only	You must pay rent — homeowners cannot claim Housing Benefit (use Support for Mortgage Interest instead).
Income	Low income. Amount depends on your income, savings, and household.
Savings	Usually cannot claim if savings exceed £16,000.
Spare bedrooms	The 'bedroom tax' reduces benefit by 14–25% if you have spare bedrooms (working-age social housing tenants).
LHA	Private renters are limited to the Local Housing Allowance rate for their area and household size.

How much you could get

Housing Benefit for private renters is based on the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) for your area and household size. For social housing, it's based on your eligible rent. The benefit is reduced if you have non-dependants living with you, or if your property is deemed larger than you need (spare bedroom rule / bedroom tax).

How to apply — step by step

Check if you should claim UC housing element instead

If you're working-age and a new claimant, you'll usually need to claim the housing element of Universal Credit at gov.uk/apply-universal-credit rather than Housing Benefit.

Apply to your local council for Housing Benefit

If you're pension-age or in supported accommodation, apply at your local council's website or benefits office. Search '[your council] Housing Benefit claim'.

Provide income and tenancy details

You'll need: tenancy agreement, income and savings details, National Insurance number, and bank account details.

Housing Benefit is usually paid to you

In most cases, Housing Benefit is paid to you and you pay your landlord. In some circumstances (arrears, vulnerable claimants), it can be paid directly to the landlord.

Report changes in circumstances

Tell your council immediately if your income, household members, or address changes. Failure to report can lead to overpayments you must repay.

Apply on GOV.UK →

Need help while you wait for a decision?

Citizens Advice: Free advice on benefits, debt, and housing — citizensadvice.org.uk
Turn2Us: Free benefits calculator and grants search — turn2us.org.uk
Entitledto: Free UK benefits calculator — entitledto.co.uk
Food banks: The Trussell Trust operates food banks across the UK — trusselltrust.org
Debt advice: StepChange offers free debt advice — stepchange.org

Frequently asked questions

I'm working-age — can I still claim Housing Benefit?

Most working-age people cannot make new Housing Benefit claims and should claim the housing element of Universal Credit instead. Exceptions include: those in temporary accommodation placed by the council, those in supported or sheltered housing, and existing Housing Benefit claimants who haven't been migrated to UC yet.

What is the bedroom tax?

The 'bedroom tax' (officially the under-occupancy charge) reduces Housing Benefit for working-age social housing tenants with spare bedrooms. You lose 14% for one spare bedroom and 25% for two or more. It doesn't apply to pension-age tenants.

What is Local Housing Allowance (LHA)?

LHA is the maximum Housing Benefit paid to private renters based on the number of rooms you need and the average rents in your area. If your rent is higher than the LHA, you pay the difference yourself.

Can Housing Benefit cover all my rent?

It depends on your income and local LHA rates. If you have little or no income and your rent is at or below the LHA rate, Housing Benefit may cover your full rent. The benefit is reduced pound-for-pound as income rises.

I have arrears — can I still claim?

Yes. Having rent arrears doesn't stop you claiming Housing Benefit. In fact, if you have 8+ weeks of arrears, payments can be sent directly to your landlord. Apply immediately if you haven't already.

🏠 Housing Benefit