Housing Benefit

Overview

You can only make a new claim for Housing Benefit if either of the following apply:

  • you have reached State Pension age
  • you’re in supported, sheltered or temporary housing

Over State Pension Age

Single people (living without a partner)

If you’re single you can make a new claim for Housing Benefit.

If you’re over State Pension age and live with your partner

You can make a new claim for Housing Benefit if any of the following apply:

  • you and your partner have both reached State Pension age
  • one of you has reached State Pension age and started claiming Pension Credit (for you as a couple) before 15 May 2019
  • you’re in supported, sheltered or temporary housing

If you’re over State Pension age and have an existing claim

Your existing claim will not be affected if, before 15 May 2019, you:

  • were getting Housing Benefit
  • had reached State Pension age

It does not matter if your partner is under State Pension age.

If your circumstances change and your Housing Benefit is stopped, you cannot start getting it again unless you and your partner are eligible to make a new claim.

You can apply for Universal Credit if you’re not eligible.

Living in supported, sheltered or temporary housing

You can make a new claim if:

  • you’re living in temporary accommodation, such as a B&B arranged by your council
  • you’re living in a refuge for survivors of domestic abuse
  • you’re living in sheltered or supported housing (such as a hostel) which provides you with ‘care, support or supervision’

If you do not get ‘care, support or supervision’ through your supported or sheltered housing, you can apply for Universal Credit to help with housing costs.

If you’re in supported, sheltered or temporary housing, you can apply for Universal Credit to help with other living costs.

General eligibility criteria

  • your savings are less than £16,000 – unless you get Guarantee Credit of Pension Credit
  • you do not live in the home of a close relative
  • you do not live with a partner who is already claiming Housing Benefit
  • you’re not a full-time student
  • you’re not residing in the UK as a European Economic Area (EEA) jobseeker
  • you’re not an asylum seeker or sponsored to be in the UK
  • you’re not subject to immigration control and your granted leave states that you cannot claim public funds
  • you’re not a Crown Tenant
  • you’re not part of a mixed age couple, unless you had an existing claim as a couple before 15 May 2019

Use a benefits calculator to check if you can get Housing Benefit before you apply.

How to Claim

You can either apply:

Evidence to support your claim.

You’ll get Housing Benefit faster if you have this available when you make your claim.

You’ll need to know:

  • how much rent you pay
  • whether anything else is included in the rent, such as water, gas or electricity charges
  • if you pay any service charges, including building maintenance or insurance
  • your landlord or agent’s details

You’ll need to provide original documents, not copies. The supporting evidence you’ll need includes:

  • your most recent payslips (5 if paid weekly, or 2 if paid monthly)
  • bank or building society statements for the last 2 full months
  • proof of other income or investments, including shares, ISAs or Premium Bonds
  • proof of income for any non-dependants living with you, such as adult relatives or friends

You’ll also need proof of your partner’s name and address. You cannot use the same document to prove both their name and address.

Provide any 2 of the following:

  • UK photocard driving licence
  • current passport
  • birth or marriage certificate
  • certificate of registration or naturalisation
  • permanent residence card
  • letter from HMRC or the Home Office
  • recent utility bill
  • recent bank or building society statement
  • recent benefit award statements

If you rent from a private landlord, you’ll also need to provide one of the following:

  • a tenancy agreement or rent book
  • a letter from your landlord confirming your tenancy – this is usually supplied at the start of your tenancy

Last Updated on April 23, 2026 by Ashford Advice