The rules on eligibility for Housing Benefit for people coming to the UK from abroad are one of the most complex areas of welfare rights law.

Whether or not a person can claim Housing Benefit may depend on a number of factors. These include nationality, immigration status (and any conditions attached to it), the circumstances under which the person arrived in the UK, whether they are deemed “habitually resident”, whether they are in work or looking for work, and whether they arrived alone or with other family members. Many other factors may be relevant.

The information on these pages give a broad overview of the rules on access to Housing Benefitt for people coming to the UK from abroad. They are not intended to be a definitive statement on who can claim, but rather to indicate who may be able to claim, and when it is worth challenging a decision refusing HB.