Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

Housing benefit definition

What does Housing benefit mean? Housing benefit is a means-tested payment that helps tenants meet eligible rent. In England and Wales and Scotland it is a statutory social security benefit, administered by local authorities under the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 and Housing Benefit Regulations 2006 (with parallel pension-age regulations). It can cover rent for council or housing association tenancies and for private tenancies, the latter subject to Local Housing Allowance caps. Adjustments include non-dependant deductions and, for working-age social tenants, the under-occupation (“bedroom tax”) rules. Since the roll-out of Universal Credit, most working-age new claimants receive housing costs via Universal Credit; Housing...

Housing Benefit and Local Housing Allowance in Great Britain: Eligibility, Rent Restrictions, Pension-age, Specified/Temporary Accommodation, Calculation, Payments, Absence, Backdating, Overpayments, Appeals, DHP and Universal Credit

Published by a LexisNexis Local Government expert

Practice notes

What is housing benefit?

Housing benefit has traditionally been the support scheme to help people on limited incomes meet their rent. It is now largely superseded by the housing costs element within Universal Credit (UC). Most working-age people can no longer make a fresh claim for housing benefit. Nonetheless, it still applies to two sets of claimants:

(a) those over pension age
(b) those living in ‘specified’ or ‘temporary’ accommodation

Eligibility for housing benefit

Entitlement is assessed by looking at the rent due and the claimant’s income and capital (savings, property and investments). Housing benefit can be awarded to people who:

pay rent
are on a low income, and
hold capital under £16,000, although for recipients of certain means-tested benefits, including the guarantee credit of pension credit, capital is disregarded

Personal factors matter (such as the age and number of dependants, ownership of additional property, and other income received like maintenance payments or particular benefits). Claims are submitted to the local authority where the tenant lives. Joint tenants may claim housing benefit for their share of the rent. Housing benefit is generally not available for most new working-age claims, as support has shifted to Universal Credit (the housing costs element)...

To view the latest version of this document and thousands of others like it, sign-in with LexisNexis or register for a free trial.

Kevin Gannon

Garden Court Chambers

Kevin has specialised in housing law for over 25 years. He has particular expertise in homeless appeals and in defending possession claims. He has particular interest in cases involving public law and human rights issues. He also has an interest and expertise in social security law and sits part time in the social security tribunal. He also now sits part time in the county court. He has experience of dealing with cases at all levels, including the Supreme Court....

Web page updated on 21/05/2026

Popular documents

Using the Judicial College Guidelines to assess general damages in personal injury claims

When evaluating a general damages claim, the practitioner ought initially to refer to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG)...

Tomlin orders in England and Wales: CPR guidance on drafting, confidentiality, approval, variation, enforcement, limitation, CCA issues, court-specific requirements, sample wording and precedents

This Practice Note This Practice Note reviews mechanisms used in settling litigation. A Tomlin order consists of a consent order paired with a schedule. It operates to stay proceedings on terms that have been agreed. The provisions contained in the schedule may remain confidential. This Practice Note describes the scope of confidentiality attaching to the schedule and sets out how it differs from a standard consent order. Sample wording for a Tomlin order is included, alongside links to precedents, as well as guidance on court approval. It also addresses varying, setting aside and enforcing a Tomlin order, including the considerations the court will take into account when handling applications for each. Further guidance is provided on interpreting and applying the relevant provisions of the CPR; however, some courts and divisions impose very specific requirements for both drafting and approval, and for approaching the schedule and confidentiality issues. Accordingly, you must consider the particular rules and court guide provisions in the forum where your claim is proceeding when drawing up the Tomlin order...

Precedent: Deed of Surrender of Lease with Optional Premium, Settlement and Release, Landlord, Mortgagee and Guarantor Consents, Reimbursement and HM Land Registry Provisions (England and Wales)

Date [ date ] Parties [ name of Landlord ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Landlord) [ name of Tenant ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Tenant) [ [ name of Guarantor ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Guarantor) ] [ [ name of Mortgagee ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Mortgagee) ] Definitions Within this Deed, the terms below shall be interpreted as follows: [ Annual Rent • the annual sum reserved under the Lease; ] [ Insurance Rent • the Tenant’s share of the Landlord’s costs of insuring the Property (as set out in the Lease); ] Lease • the lease of the Property dated [ date ], entered into between (1) [ the Landlord OR [ name ...

Precedent Statutory Declaration: Standard Wording under the Statutory Declarations Act 1835

I, [ name ], of [ address ], solemnly and sincerely state that: [ Matters to be verified, set out in numbered paragraphs ] I make this solemn statement in good conscience, believing it to be true, and pursuant to the provisions of the Statutory Declarations Act 1835. DECLARED at [ details ] this [ day ] day of [ month and year ] Before me ................................................................................ [ signature of the person before whom the declaration is made ] A [ commissioner for oaths OR [ solicitor OR [ insert other qualification ] ] authorised to administer oaths ]...