New claims for HB can only be made by claimants who:

• are single people of State Pension age, or 
• are a couple, both of State Pension age, or
• are a 'protected' Mixed Age Couple - click here, or
• are living in 'specified accommodation', or
• are living in 'temporary accommodation', or
• are in a Mixed Age Couple where the younger is ineligible for UC - the older is treated as a single claimant and can claim HB and Pension Credit as a single person - click here.

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.