lastID = -264060
Skip to main content
Skip to top navigation
Skip to site search
Action menu options
My citations options
Close action menu
You need to
login to use this feature
.
Please wait while we update your results...
Please wait while we update your results...
Please wait a moment...
Site search
Search Welfare Rights
Search
Accessibility Options
Base text size -
This is a sample piece of body text
Larger
Smaller
Menu
Log in
Log in
CPAG Home
Benefit rates
Shop
Training & events
Support for advisers
Advice line for advisers
Support for advisers in England and Wales
Support for advisers in Scotland
Tell us about your case
Handbooks
Online handbooks
Print handbooks
Key topics
PIP appeals
Maximising income
Universal credit
Migration to universal credit
Survivors of domestic abuse
Benefits for migrants
Debt
Housing costs
Personal independence payment
Sanctions and work-related requirements
Work capability assessment
Tools & templates
About our tools and templates
Universal credit
Migration to universal credit
Benefits for migrants
Personal independence payment
Work capability assessment
Revision, supersession and appeal procedure
Judicial review
All tools and templates
Benefits in Scotland
Scottish benefits
More information about benefits in Scotland
Other CPAG resources on benefits in Scotland
Bulletins & articles
Welfare Rights Bulletin
Articles
eBulletins
Test cases & caselaw
About CPAG test cases
Updates on CPAG test cases
Support with an Upper Tribunal case
Support with the judicial review process
Caselaw summaries
Welfare Benefits Handbook 2025/26
This content was last updated:
01 Dec 2025
Chapter 10: Housing benefit
Welfare Benefits Handbook 2025/26
View
Details
Print
Share
Email
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
view
View
Details
Print
Share
Share
Email
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Welfare Benefits Handbook 2025/26
Part 3: Other means-tested benefits
Chapter 10: Housing benefit
Back to previous
Chapter 10: Housing benefit
Key facts
1. Who can get housing benefit
Who can make a new claim for housing benefit
Mixed-age couples
Payments that can be met by housing benefit
Payments that cannot be met by housing benefit
Liability to pay rent
People treated as liable to pay rent
People treated as not liable to pay rent
Joint liability
Occupying accommodation as your home
Moving home
Temporary absence from home
Housing benefit for more than one home
Other situations
2. The rules about your age
Working-age or pension-age housing benefit
Mixed-age couples
3. People included in the award
4. The amount of benefit
If you are on a means-tested benefit
If you are not on a means-tested benefit
Maximum housing benefit
Eligible rent
Calculating your weekly eligible rent
If you live in shared accommodation
Ineligible charges
Service charges
Deductions for non-dependants
Who counts as a non-dependant
When a non-dependant deduction is not made
The amount of the deductions
Your non-dependant's income or capital is more than yours
5. Special benefit rules
6. Claims and backdating
Making a claim
If you claim pension credit
Making sure your claim is valid
Amending or withdrawing your claim
Where to claim
Who should claim
Appointees
Information to support your claim
The national insurance number requirement
The date of your claim
Backdating your claim
If you claim the wrong benefit
Claiming in advance
Housing benefit after an award of a qualifying benefit
Notice of the decision
Information a decision notice should contain
When your entitlement starts
7. Getting paid
How your benefit is paid
Payment to someone acting on your behalf
Payment direct to a landlord
Continuing payments
Continuing payments on claiming pension credit
Extended payments of housing benefit
Housing benefit run-on
Delays and complaints
Payments on account
Change of circumstances
How to report a change of circumstances
Changes you must report if you get pension credit
Changes you must report if you do not get pension credit
When changes in circumstances take effect
8. Tax, other benefits and the benefit cap
Tax
Means-tested benefits
Non-means-tested benefits
The benefit cap
Passports and other sources of help
Financial help on starting work
You need to be a subscriber to see this page
Log in if you're already a subscriber or view our subscription options
Log in
View our subscription options
Purchase online access to the section for £0.00
Illustrations
Previous
Next
CPAG. "Chapter 10: Housing benefit." In
Welfare Benefits Handbook 2025/26.
, 2025. Accessed March 10, 2026.
CPAG,
https://askcpag.org.uk/?id=-264060CITANCHOR.
CPAG. "Chapter 10: Housing benefit." In
Welfare Benefits Handbook 2025/26.
, 2025. Accessed March 10, 2026. https://askcpag.org.uk/?id=-264060CITANCHOR.
Contributor(s):
CPAG
Title:
Welfare Benefits Handbook 2025/26
Site name:
CPAG
Publisher:
Publication date:
March 21, 2025
Date accessed:
March 10, 2026
URL:
https://askcpag.org.uk/?id=-264060CITANCHOR
height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden">
Default