Housing Benefit can help you pay your rent if you’re unemployed, on a low income or claiming benefits. Housing Benefit is not for costs associated with heating, hot water, lighting, laundry, or cooking.
Housing Benefit is currently being replaced by Universal Credit (UC). If you already receive HB, you will receive or will have already received a letter from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) called a “migration notice”, asking you to switch to UC.
Eligibility
New applications for HB are only open to:
- People who have reached State Pension age (this depends on your sex and date of birth)
- Those in supported, sheltered or temporary housing. This includes:
- Accommodation services which also give you care, support or supervision
- Refuges for survivors of domestic abuse
- Accommodation arranged by your council
What you can get
The amount of HB you can receive depends on:
- Your eligible rent (the amount used to calculate your HB claim)
- How many people live with you, or as part of your household
- Your household’s income, including benefits, pensions and savings (over £6,000)
- The age of the people in your home, or if someone has a disability
If you rent privately and are on a low income, HB goes by the alternative name of Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rate. This depends on where you live and how big your household is.
Apply or find out more
- Apply on the UK Gov website
- Read more info from Citizens Advice
- Use the benefits calculator from Edinburgh Council
Contact VOCAL
If you still have any questions about Housing Benefit, you can contact our benefits team at VOCAL. We provide one-to-one advice, as well as regular advice surgeries where we offer benefits checks to carers we support.
