Help with bills and housing costs

Housing benefit

Housing Benefit is money that can help you pay your rent if you're:

• unemployed

• on a low income

• claiming benefits

Universal Credit is replacing Housing Benefit.

You can only apply for Housing Benefit if you:

• have reached State Pension age

• are in supported, sheltered or temporary housing

If you are not eligible to claim Housing benefit you may be able to claim Universal Credit to help with housing costs.

Read more about Universal Credit

There are several situations when you cannot usually claim Housing Benefit. These include:

• your savings are over £16,000 - unless you get Guarantee Credit of Pension Credit

• you’re already claiming Universal Credit. Unless you’re in temporary or supported housing

• you’ve reached State Pension age but your live-in partner has not. Unless you had an existing claim as a couple before 15 May 2019

You can read more about Housing Benefit on the Government website

Help if you have a mortgage

You cannot claim housing benefit if you’re paying a mortgage on your own home. You may be able to get help with interest payments. This is called Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI). Read about Support for Mortgage Interest on the government website

Other help with housing costs

Extra help with your rent

If you get Housing Benefit or the housing part of Universal Credit, it might not cover all your rent. If this happens, you can ask your council for extra help. This is called a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP).

 It is a payment made by the council after looking at your circumstances. DHP is available in England and Wales. In Northern Ireland, you apply at the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

Read more about how to apply at the Northern Ireland Housing Executive

Find out how to apply for Discretionary Housing Payment in Scotland

Discretionary Housing Payments can give you extra money to meet your housing costs. You may get a DHP to help with housing costs, such as:

• a rent shortfall

• rent deposits

• rent in advance if you need to move home

Your council will decide whether you qualify, how much you will get and for how long you will receive it.

Read more about Discretionary Housing Payment on the Government website

Help with the cost of heating

There are ways to make your home more energy efficient and reduce your bills. You can save energy by:

• turning down radiators in rooms you're not using

• bleeding radiators

• getting your boiler serviced

• reducing your hot water tank temperature

• finding and fixing draughts

Find energy saving tips to save money on the Government website

If you own a property in England or Wales you can get advice on how to improve your house so it is cheaper to heat and keep warm.

Find advice on how to improve your house

There’s different advice if you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland. Visit Home Energy Scotland if you want advice for Scotland or visit NI Direct if you want advice for Northern Ireland.

Visit Home Energy Scotland

Visit Northern Ireland Direct

You can also apply for a home energy grant. It can help to cover the cost of insulating your loft and cavity walls.

Read more about energy grants on the Government website

Winter fuel payment

You may get help to pay towards your heating bills. People who live in England or Wales and were born before on or before 27 June 1960 could be eligible. Most people who are eligible will get this payment automatically.

Read more about the Winter Fuel Payment on the government website

Read about the Winter Fuel payment in Northern Ireland

Pension Age Winter Heating Payment in Scotland

There is a fuel payment scheme in Scotland. If you are eligible, you should get this payment automatically.

Read about Pension Age Winter Heating Payment in Scotland

Cold Weather Payment

You may get Cold Weather Payments if you’re getting certain benefits or Support for Mortgage Interest.

Read about cold weather payments