Housing Systems: Combating poverty and sustaining tenancies.
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Claims and Payments: Who can claim?
Claims and Payments: Who can claim?
New claims for HB can only be made by claimants who:

 
And who:
  • are paying 'rent' - or something that counts as rent, and
  • are able to prove their ID, and
  • have (or have applied for) a National Insurance number, and
  • are liable for rent (including those who are treated as liable), and
  • are living in the property (some temporary absences allowed),  and
  • are not excluded from claiming (e.g. some students, people from abroad), and
  • have a low enough income.
 
Click on the icons below or the links above to find out more.
 
NOTE: Many working age people are not able to make a new claim Housing Benefit and need to make a claim for Universal Credit instead - click here for more details.
But some people are told they have to claim UC when they don't need to! Click here.

Need to Claim UC Instead

Who will need to claim Universal Credit instead of HB?

Wrongly told to claim UC

How can this be corrected?


Age

How old do you have to be to claim HB?
How does age affect the award?

Prove Identity

Can be difficult for some claimants.
Find out exceptions, problems, solutions.

Pay 'Rent'

What does 'rent' include? When can someone claim HB even though they are not the tenant.

Live in Property

Temporary absences, HB on 2 homes & HB before moving in, and after moved out

Not Excluded

Some people can't get HB - who are they and what can they do?

Income/Savings

How do income  & savings affect HB?
What is the savings limit?

Appointees

The difference between an appointee, an agent, and an authorised representative.

Shared-Owners

What help can they claim?

Specified / Temporary Accommodation

Special rules for UC claimants living in specified or temporary accommodation.