You can claim housing benefit if you pay rent or rates for your home. If you are a private tenant, your entitlement could be calculated under local housing allowance rules.

You don't have to be unemployed or claiming other benefits to get housing benefit. However, you will only be allowed to claim housing benefit if you pass the six tests outlined below.

• Your savings must be lower than £16,000
  
• You must pay rent or rates
  
• It must be your usual home
  
• You must be habitually resident
  
• You must have a low income
  
• You must not be excluded from claiming housing benefit
  

Your savings must be lower than £16,000

The Housing Executive will not give you any housing benefit if you have more than £16,000 in savings and other capital. This includes:

• cash;
• savings;
• shares;
• redundancy payments;
• any property you own that you are not living in.

Capital belonging to your partner also counts as your capital. The Housing Executive doesn't count certain types of capital, such as life insurance policies.

If you have more than £6,000 of savings and capital, the Housing Executive will reduce the amount of housing benefit to which you might be entitled. Working out your housing benefit can be complicated.

People over 60

Rules for people over 60 are slightly more generous. As with the general rules, you can claim housing benefit if you have savings and capital up to £16,000. Anything above £10,000 will have an effect on your entitlement. The deductions will be at a lower rate than for people under 60.

If you have more than £16,000 in savings and capital, you may still be entitled to housing benefit if you are in receipt of the guarantee element of pension credit.

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You must pay rent or rates

You can claim housing benefit if you are liable for paying the rent or rates for your accommodation. You can also claim housing benefit if you are living in a hostel or are a lodger. The Housing Executive will not give you housing benefit if:

• you pay rent to your partner or a relative that you live with;
• you are responsible for looking after your landlord's child.

The Housing Executive will not pay your rent if you own some of the property. However, you may be able to apply for help with your rates.

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It must be your usual home

The Housing Executive will usually only give you housing benefit for the accommodation you live in. However, in certain circumstances you may be able to get housing benefit if:

• you have two homes;
• you are temporarily absent from your home.

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You must be habitually resident

You are only eligible to claim housing benefit if you are habitually resident in Northern Ireland. This means that:

• you normally live in Northern Ireland;
• you don't need a visa to enter or leave the UK;
• you are able to work in Northern Ireland.

If you have a British or Irish passport and live in Northern Ireland you are probably habitually resident. If you are unsure about your immigration status, get advice.

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You must have a low income

If you get income support, jobseeker's allowance (income based), employment and support allowance (income related) or pension credit (guarantee element), you will qualify for maximum housing benefit.

However, if you are a private tenant, this may not be enough to pay your full rent. You are allowed to apply for housing benefit.

You can still apply for housing benefit if you work, and are on a low income. However, the amount of housing benefit you receive may be reduced, especially if you are single and under 25.

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You must not be excluded from claiming housing benefit

There are certain types of people who are not allowed to claim housing benefit even if they have passed the other five tests. You won't be allowed to claim housing benefit if:

• you are a full time student;
• you are a member of a religious order;
• you are a certain 'person from abroad'.

Housing benefit rules for persons from abroad are very complicated. If you require detailed advice, contact advisors in Housing Rights Service, Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities or Law Centre NI.

However, students may be entitled to claim if:

• you have children under 16, or under 19 if they are in full time education;
• you are disabled;
• you are receiving income support, jobseeker's allowance (income based) or employment and support allowance (income related);
• you are a pensioner.

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