Housing Payments

You can apply for Housing Payments if you receive Housing Benefit or Universal Credit housing costs and need extra help with housing‑related costs.

Who can apply

You may be eligible if you receive Housing Benefit or Universal Credit housing costs and need additional help because:

• your benefit has been reduced by the benefit cap
• you are a social tenant under-occupying your home
• you are a private tenant and you rent is restricted by a rent officer decision or the local housing allowance

You will not qualify if:

• your full eligible rent is already covered by Housing Benefit or Universal Credit
• the shortfall is due only to a previous overpayment
• the shortfall relates to ineligible service charges, such as water rates, heating or lighting

What you need to provide

Tell us why you need extra help and include:

• any disabilities or illnesses affecting you or your household
• how your disability or illness affects your finances or prevents you from moving
• details of income, spending and debts
• any changes that make it harder to meet your housing costs
• what would happen if you lost your home
• any other relevant circumstances

We may request further reasonable evidence.

How to apply

You must apply to the council for the area where you live.