If you are on a low income, you may be entitled to benefits to help you pay your rent.  For most people who rent privately, the amount of help they will get towards rent is worked out under a system called Local Housing Allowance. The amount of benefit you receive under the Local Housing Allowance rules depends on your circumstances and not on the actual rent for the property in which you live.

If you started receiving housing benefit to pay for your rented home before April 2008 and have not had a break in your claim since then, your entitlement to housing benefit is worked out under a different set of rules and you should speak to an adviser if you are having a problem with your benefits.  [1]