Housing benefit - advice before you apply

Sometimes you will not be able to claim housing benefit. This could be because:

• Your savings are over £16,000 (unless you are in receipt of guarantee credit)
• You are not liable to pay rent
• You live in a care home
• You pay rent to a close relative and you live in the same property as them
• You rent a former joint home from your ex-partner
• You are the parent or guardian of your landlord's child
• You occupy your home as part of your job
• You are receiving universal credit and claiming housing costs from the Department for Works and Pensions
• You are of working age and your partner is of pensionable age and you have become a couple after the 15 May 2019, you will need to claim universal credit

Last updated: ‎21/08/2025 10:18