How much will I receive?
To work out your housing benefit entitlement we will look at:
- The money that you and your partner have coming in, including earnings, some benefits and tax credits and things like occupational pensions
- The savings that you and your partner may have
- Your circumstances, such as your age and the size of family you have and the ages of your children, whether you or any of your family are disabled, and whether there is anyone who lives with you who could help with the rent
If you rent your home from a private landlord, the Benefits Service will also ask the Rent Officer Service to look at whether:
- The amount of rent is reasonable for your home
- Your home is of a reasonable size for you and your family
- The amount of rent is reasonable for the area you live in
Can I get help if I have to pay rent on my old and new home?
Housing benefit is normally only paid on one home - the one at which you live. This is because most people should be able to plan a move in advance.
In a few exceptional cases benefit may be paid on two homes.
When can payment on two homes be made?
Example:
A person has moved into their new house and they could not reasonably have avoided liability in respect of both of them.
In such cases the authority may be able to treat the claimant as occupying both properties as a home for up to a maximum period of four benefit weeks and therefore may be entitled to benefit on both of them.
For more information visit Shelter - Housing benefit for two homes
When can I claim overlapping benefit?
To claim overlapping benefit you must have moved into your new property.
Overlapping benefit will be paid at your old address.
How do I apply for benefit on two homes?
To apply for overlapping benefit you must contact us giving your reasons why you need overlapping benefit and provide proof of the date your rent has been charged up to at your old home.
