Help with paying your rent
Many tenants receive help with rent through:
- Housing Benefit
- Universal Credit
- Direct payments from the local authority
If you think your benefit is wrong or has stopped, please let us know straight away.
Your support staff can also help you:
- apply for benefits
- report changes to your circumstances
- manage your money safely
- keep track of what you owe
Universal Credit and Housing Benefit
Some people can get help with their rent through Universal Credit or Housing Benefit.
- Universal Credit helps people on a low income with living costs, including rent
- Housing Benefit helps people living in supported housing pay their rent.
When you move into your home, you need to fill in a Housing Benefit form and send it to your local council. They will decide if you can get help and how much. If you need support filling in the form, your support worker or your housing officer can help and give advice about Housing Benefit or Universal Credit.
The council will look at your weekly income and savings to decide if you can get Housing Benefit. They may not cover all your rent, but they can help with some of it.
Important things to remember:
- If you get help with rent through Universal Credit, you need to tell the Department for Work and Pensions about any changes.
- If you submit your Housing Benefit form late, you may not get help from the day you moved in. You would need to pay this yourself. It’s always your responsibility to make sure your rent is paid in full, even if you get Housing Benefit or Universal Credit.
- Tell Housing Benefit or Universal Credit if your circumstances change, such as if your income increases.
When applying for Housing Benefit, you will need to show proof of identity, income, and savings.
What benefits can I get?
If you’re not sure what benefits you could receive, here are some simple calculators that can help you check what financial support you might be entitled to:
Getting help with housing costs
A Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) is extra financial help from your local council to cover rent or other housing costs.
Who can apply:
You can apply if you already claim:
- Housing Benefit
- The housing element of Universal Credit and need extra support with housing costs
What DHP can help with:
DHP can help if you are affected by things like:
- The benefit cap
- Removal of the spare room subsidy (sometimes called the “bedroom tax”)
- Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates
It can also help with:
- A shortfall in your rent
- Rent deposits
- Rent in advance if you need to move home
How to apply:
You will need to apply through your local council and each council has its own process.
Your council will check your circumstances and decide:
- If you can get a DHP
- How much you will get
- How long the payment will last
For help with your application, please get in touch with your support worker or your housing officer.
Money and debt advice
If you are struggling with debt or just want some simple money advice,
- StepChange can provide you with a personal action plan to help you manage your way out of debt.
- MoneyHelper provide free and impartial help with money, backed by the UK government.
- National Debtline provide free debt advice to help you manage your finances.
- Turn2Us provide free and easy-to-use Benefits Calculator and Grants Search tools to check what benefits you might be able to claim and what grants you might be able to apply for.
If you fall behind with payments
We understand that things can change and paying rent and service charges isn’t always easy. If you fall behind, please speak to us as soon as possible.
We can:
- agree an affordable repayment plan
- support you to claim the benefits you’re entitled to
- work with your support or appointee
- give advice before your situation becomes serious