Making a claim for housing benefit

You can claim housing benefit if:

• you are on income support or job seekers allowance
• you are on a low income
• employed or self employed  
• in receipt of pension credit                    

About this service

You cannot get housing benefit if:

• you and your partner have more than £16,000 in savings in total                         

A partner is someone you are married to, or someone you live with as if you are married to them.

What you must do

To claim housing benefit, you must complete an application form. The application form must be completed in full and include all supporting information.

Select this link to complete the application form online

What we must do

Once we assess your claim for housing benefit, we will notify you in writing of our decision.

What happens next?

The customer can expect to be notified in writing of the decision in respect of the housing benefit claim. 

Some frequently asked questions

How do I claim housing benefit?

If you claim income support or job seekers allowance, the Department of Works and Pensions (DWP) will give you a form to claim housing benefit. Fill in the form and send it back to the DWP straight away. They will send the form to us with proof of your income support/jobseeker allowance claim.

If you have not made a claim through the DWP, based on income support or job seekers allowance, you can still claim housing benefit if you are on a low income. You will need to fill in the claim form marked 'housing benefit'.

If you are in receipt of pension credit you can request a claim form from the pension service.