Private renters can get help to pay their rent. The amount you get depends on your personal circumstances and on how much money you earn.

If you are not already getting help to pay your rent, you should claim

• housing benefit if you are over pension age, and
• Universal Credit [1] if you are below pension age. 

Both benefits use a system called Local Housing Allowance to calculate how much help private renters get with rent. A different system is used to calculate your benefit if you have been claiming housing benefit to pay your rent since March 2008 or earlier.