Housing Benefit

You may still be able to get Housing Benefit if you’re:

• State Pension age or older, or
• part of a couple and you are both over State Pension age, or
• in supported, sheltered or temporary housing

If you do not fall within one of these categories, you should apply for Universal Credit instead. 

You can get Housing Benefit if you:

• pay rent to a landlord
• have a right to reside and claim benefits in the UK
• have a low income
• have savings and assets worth less than £16,000 (and certain assets are not counted)

Apply for Housing Benefit online or download a paper form and submit it to the Housing Executive. You can also visit the Housing Executive office to pick up a paper copy. 

Housing Benefit can cover:

• rent
• rates
• temporary housing (for example, a hostel, single let, supported or sheltered housing)
• fees that are a condition of your tenancy (for example, cleaning charges)

You can use an online calculator to get an idea of what benefits you can get. Check the amount you can get. It can depend on your situation, including your age, savings and assets, and other benefits you get. You decide if it’s paid to you, your landlord or estate agent. 

You must tell the Housing Executive if your situation and needs change. Otherwise, you may have to pay back some of your benefit.

For example, the amount you get can change if:

• your income changes
• you start or stop working
• you get a lump sum payment
• someone moves in or out of your home
• an adult, who is not your partner, lives with you

You can transfer your benefit if you move house. Ask the Housing Executive for a change of address form.

Savings and assets change how much Housing Benefit you get

Assets, also known as capital, can reduce the amount of Housing Benefit you can get. This can include things like property. Your Housing Benefit stops if you gain assets and savings more than £16,000.

If you are older than the State Pension age, you get less Housing Benefit if you:

• do not get the guarantee element of pension credit, and
• have savings or assets worth £10,000 or more

If you’re younger than the State Pension age, you get less Housing Benefit if you have savings or assets worth £6,000 or more.

Some savings and assets do not count toward the amounts that can reduce your Housing Benefit. The Housing Executive does not count:

• the value of your belongings
• the value of the home you live in
• business assets if you are self-employed 
• business assets if you are self-employed but cannot work due to illness

The value of a property you own, but do not live in does not count:

• forever if a family member who is of pension age or incapacitated lives there
• forever if your former partner lives there and is a lone parent
• for 26 weeks if you cannot live there because of a relationship breakdown
• for 26 weeks from the date you took steps to sell the property

Our advisers can help you figure out if you have savings and assets that can impact your Housing Benefit.

Challenging a Housing Benefit decision

You can usually challenge Housing Benefit decisions. This is when the Housing Executive reviews and reconsiders your application. To challenge, you should:

• send a letter asking the Housing Executive for a written, detailed explanation of their decision, within a month of the date on your decision letter
• expect a replay from the Housing Executive within 14 days
• send a letter asking for a review if you disagree with their explanation
• expect a response within 14 days either confirming or changing the decision, you may still be able to appeal

Always keep copies of anything you send to the Housing Executive.

Appealing a Housing Benefit decision 

If you’re not happy with the Housing Executive’s review of your challenge, you can appeal. It’s complicated and you must appeal within one month of the date of your original notification letter or the date of the reviewed decision. To go through the appeals process:

• send a letter to the Housing Executive and explain the decision you want to appeal
• get an independent tribunal – the Appeals Service will set up a hearing for you with an independent tribunal made up of people who are not connected to the Housing Executive
• provide any additional information, including everything from the appeal request form 
• attend the tribunal either by paper or orally, oral tribunals are usually better as you have a chance to explain yourself

If you’re unhappy with the appeal decision, you can appeal again by:

• appealing to the Social Security Commissioner on a point of law 
• asking for a judicial review if you have merit and are eligible for legal aid 

You should get specialist legal advice for these appeals.

Getting Housing Benefit if you are a private tenant

If you are:  

• receiving Housing Benefit and 
• renting from a private landlord 

the amount of help you will get towards your rent and rates is calculated based on the local housing allowance (LHA) rate. This will often be less than what is being charged by your landlord.