Chapter 12: Housing benefit
Basic facts
– Housing benefit (HB) helps with your rent.
– You cannot usually make a new claim for HB if you are under pension age.
– HB is administered by local authorities.
– Full-time students are eligible if they are on a non-advanced course and are under 21 (or are 21 and turned 21 on their course).
– Other full-time students are eligible if they get income support, income-based jobseeker’s allowance or income-related employment and support allowance, or if they are a lone parent, disabled or over pension age.
– Couples with a child are eligible throughout the year, whether one or both are students.
– There are limits to the rent covered by HB.
– HB is means tested and the amount you get depends on your grant, loan and other income.