When and How to Apply for Housing Benefit

When can I apply for Housing Benefit?

Apply straight away - if you delay you may lose benefit. Anyone can apply for Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit.

If you think you are going to need help with your rent in the future, you can apply up to 13 weeks in advance.

You may also be able to ask for Housing Benefit to start before the date you applied. This is called backdating a claim.

How do I apply for Housing Benefit?

To apply for Housing Benefit you will need to:

• fill in a new Claim Form
• fill in a claim form for backdated Housing Benefit, if you want to backdate your claim
• fill in a Student Form, if you are a student
• attach all supporting documents
• return the form(s) with all supporting documents by post or by visiting our local service shops.

To get a new Claim Form and a Student Form:

• use the right hand menu to download and print
• contact us and ask for the claim forms to be sent by post

Information about how to fill in the claim form and what documents you will need to send are given in the claim form. If you have any problems filling in the claim form please contact us.

If you have a partner living with you, you must include your partner in the benefit application. (A partner is a person of the same or opposite sex living with you as part of an established couple)

If you claim Pension Credit, Income Support or Jobseeker's Allowance through your Social Security office you will get this form to claim with your claim pack.

What documents do I need to supply to apply for Housing Benefit?

We will pay your benefit more quickly if you provide us all the information and documents we need with the claim form. If you cannot get all the information and documents we need, do not delay giving us the claim form. We will not be able to pay your benefit until we have all the necessary information and documents.

The main documents we require should prove your and your partners:

• identity
• National Insurance number
• savings and investments
• earnings
• other income
• benefits, allowances, pensions
• private rent and tenancy
• other money paid out

These documents may also be needed for any other adults living in your home. Only original documents are acceptable and we will return them back to you by first class post after keeping a copy.

If you have successfully applied for Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit), Income Support or Income-based Jobseekers Allowance, we will not need proof of your income or capital. If possible, we will get information from the Department for Work and Pensions or the Inland Revenue.

Contact Us

If you are not sure what information to provide or want to find out more see the benefits contacts page for contact details.

Page last reviewed 13 Feb 2008