Eligibility
Housing Benefit helps some people with low incomes pay their rent. You can only apply for housing benefit if:
- you and your partner are classed as pensioners
- you live in supported or exempt accommodation
You can check if you're eligible by visiting the government Housing Benefit page.
If you do not meet these conditions, you’ll need to claim Universal Credit to get help with your rent.
Evidence
You will need to provide evidence to support your claim for Housing Benefit. We might ask for things like:
- recent payslips, if you’re working
- your tenancy agreement, to confirm your rent
- recent bank statements
- proof of your National Insurance Number
Please do not post anything valuable.
If we’ve asked to see original documents, you can either:
- take them to the City Library and Community Hub
Payment
If you rent your home from Newcastle Homes, we’ll pay your Housing Benefit straight into your rent account.
If you rent from a Housing Association, you can choose:
- to have your Housing Benefit paid to them every 4 weeks (in arrears)
- to have it paid into your bank account every 2 weeks (in arrears) — you’ll need to make sure this money goes towards your rent.
If you rent from a private landlord or letting agency, we’ll pay your Housing Benefit into your bank account every 2 weeks (in arrears). You’ll be responsible for using this money to pay your rent.
If you fall behind on your rent, your landlord can ask for your Housing Benefit to be paid directly to them.