A Housing Payment provides financial support to help with rent or housing costs. It is:
- temporary
- not a benefit
- given at our discretion
A Housing Payment must not be relied on as a solution to a long term situation.
Who can apply
You can apply if you get either Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit.
We may award Housing Payments for several reasons including when:
- rent eligible for benefit has been restricted because of the bedroom tax
- the benefit cap has been applied
- there is a shortfall between a Rent Officer decision and Housing Benefit
entitlement
We cannot award Housing Payments to cover:
- water, meals, fuel or other ineligible charges included in your rent
- a reduction in Housing Benefit caused by recovery of an overpayment, or a Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) sanction
- rent arrears for a period when you were not on Housing Benefit, or the housing element of Universal Credit
- there is an expectation that you will have investigated other types of support or
solutions to your short-term financial crisis before you apply for a Housing
Payment
How to apply
Complete the Housing Payments form if you believe you may be eligible.
Money and debt advice
If you need help with the cost of living or debt, there is support available.