Payments

KEY FACTS:

For Council / ALMO tenants the HB will be paid by way of a credit directly onto their rent account - referred to as a rent rebate.
For Housing Association tenants, the HB will normally be paid by a BACs transfer into the claimant's bank account, unless the claimant or their landlord has requested that their HB be paid to the landlord.
For claimants living in a private tenancy, their HB (Local Housing Allowance) is by default paid to them, by a BACs transfer into the claimant's bank account - although it can be paid to the landlord in certain circumstances.
The HB Regulations state that a decision on a new claim should be made within 14 days - or as soon as reasonably practicable - of receiving the claim and all the information and evidence it reasonably requires Regulation 93 of the working age HB Regs 2006 / Regulation 74 of the State Pension age HB Regs 2006 - meaning a payment should be made shortly afterwards.
A payment cannot usually be made until the claim has been fully assessed. However, where there are delays - depending on the reason for the delay - the HB Office might be able to make a payment on account.