Zoe Alvarez
If you're unemployed, on a low income, or claiming benefits, you may be entitled to financial assistance with your rent and council tax. The type of support available to you will depend on your circumstances, including your income, whether you rent privately or from a council, and whether you live with other adults. You may be eligible for Housing Benefit, Universal Credit, or a Council Tax Reduction (CTR). Your local council can advise you on your entitlement and how to claim.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Housing Benefit | Helps with rent if you're unemployed, on a low income, or claiming benefits. |
| Council Tax Reduction (CTR) | Depends on income, number of adults in the household, and savings/property (must be less than £16,000). |
| Universal Credit | Available for housing costs if you're on a low income. |
| Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) | A single payment from the local council to help with rent. |
| Discounts on Council Tax | If you're the only adult in your home, you get a 25% discount. If everyone in the home is a student or severely mentally impaired, no council tax is paid. |
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What You'll Learn
Housing Benefit
You can claim Housing Benefit if you or your partner has reached State Pension age. You can also claim if you are in supported, sheltered, or temporary housing, including council-arranged B&Bs if you are homeless, or a hostel or domestic abuse refuge. If you are renting from a family member, you may be able to claim Housing Benefit, but only if you do not live in the same property.
There are two ways to claim Housing Benefit: through your local council or through a pension credit claim if you are eligible. To apply, you will need to provide evidence of your income, rent amount, tenancy, ID, recent payslips, and bank statements. You can apply online, by post, or over the phone up to four months before receiving your pension.
If you disagree with the outcome of your claim or the amount awarded, you have the right to appeal the decision. You can write to the Benefits Office to request a written explanation of the assessment or appeal the decision, providing your reasons for doing so.
While Housing Benefit can be a lifeline for those struggling with housing costs, it is important to note that finding affordable rental properties that match the regionalized rates of Local Housing Allowance (LHA) can be challenging. This has led to some individuals dipping into their other benefits or pensions to cover the shortfall. Additionally, some landlords may be reluctant to rent to individuals on Housing Benefit, which further complicates the process of finding suitable accommodation.
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Council Tax Reduction (CTR)
There are two sets of rules for CTR: "working-age CTR rules" and "pension-age CTR rules". If you haven't reached the State Pension age, the working-age rules apply. If you have reached the State Pension age, the pension-age rules usually apply. However, if you have a partner and only one of you has reached the State Pension age, it is usually best for the person who has reached that age to apply, as the pension-age rules are typically more generous.
You can apply for CTR up to 8 weeks before you are first responsible for paying council tax. If you are already responsible for paying council tax, you can apply for CTR up to 13 weeks before you become eligible. If the pension-age CTR rules apply to you, you may be able to apply up to 17 weeks in advance. You can fill out an application form, apply online, or apply by phone, depending on your local council's preferences.
In addition to CTR, there are other ways to reduce your council tax bill. If you are the only adult in your home, you are entitled to a 25% discount. If everyone in your home is a student or severely mentally impaired, you won't pay any council tax. You might also be eligible for a "second adult rebate" if the person you live with is on a low income or receiving certain benefits. Your local council may also offer discretionary reductions if you are struggling to pay your council tax.
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Universal Credit
If you are unemployed, on a low income, or claiming benefits, you may be eligible for help with rent and council tax.
- You are on a low income.
- You are of working age (16 or over and have not reached State Pension age).
- You have less than £16,000 in savings and property (not including your home).
- You are not a full-time student (unless you have a disability or are in a couple with children).
- You have a rental agreement with your landlord.
If you are eligible for Universal Credit, you can use it to help pay your rent and council tax. The amount you receive will depend on your circumstances, including your income and the number of dependants you have. You can use a benefits calculator to work out how much Universal Credit you could receive.
If you are not eligible for Universal Credit, you may still be able to get help with your rent and council tax through other schemes, such as Housing Benefit or a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP).
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Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP)
To apply for DHP, you can contact your council or utilise the DHP postcode lookup tool available on the housing advice pages of the Shelter website. The council will require information about your rent, benefits, other sources of income, and expenses. They may also request supporting documentation, such as a statement outlining your income, expenditures, and the extent of assistance needed. Additionally, medical information may be necessary to justify why someone you live with requires their own bedroom.
The amount of financial assistance provided through DHP can vary. While you might receive sufficient funds to cover your entire rent, it is also possible to obtain only a partial contribution. Payments can be made weekly, biweekly, or monthly, and they may coincide with your Universal Credit or housing benefit payment dates. It is important to note that processing your application may take several weeks.
If your circumstances change, or you believe your application has not been fairly assessed, you can request the council to review their decision. In such cases, it is advisable to provide additional supporting information and ensure that a different person handles the review process. Councils receive new DHP funding each April, so you can reapply if you still require assistance.
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Second Adult Rebate
If you live with other adults but are the only one responsible for paying council tax, you might be able to get a discount on your council tax bill. This is called a 'second adult rebate'. Your local council might refer to this as an 'alternative maximum CTR'.
To be eligible for a second adult rebate, you must not be able to get a Council Tax Reduction (CTR) because your income or capital is too high. Capital includes things like savings and certain types of property. You can check if you are eligible for CTR if you haven't already. It is important to note that you cannot get a second adult rebate at the same time as CTR.
To determine your eligibility for a second adult rebate, your council will check if there are any second adults living with you. They will then assess the income of these second adults. The less income the second adults have, the larger the rebate on your council tax bill. If all the second adults in your household receive specific benefits and everyone else is a full-time student, you can get a 100% rebate. If a second adult is getting other benefits like Universal Credit, you won't automatically get a 25% rebate. In this case, the council will treat their income the same as if they were working.
If you get a second adult rebate, you are legally required to inform the council of any changes to your circumstances.
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Frequently asked questions
You may be entitled to help with rent if you are unemployed, on a low income, or claiming benefits. You can make a claim for a discretionary housing payment (DHP), which is a single payment from your local council to help pay your rent. You may also be able to get Universal Credit for housing costs.
You may be able to get Universal Credit for housing costs if you are on a low income, unemployed, or claiming benefits. You can check your eligibility on the government website.
You may be entitled to a discount on your council tax bill if you are the only adult in your home, or if everyone in your home is a student or severely mentally impaired. You can also apply for Council Tax Reduction (CTR) to reduce the amount of council tax you have to pay.
CTR is a program that reduces the amount of council tax you have to pay. Your local council will determine your eligibility for CTR based on your income, savings, and property value. You can check your eligibility and apply for CTR through your local council.
