Find out how much Housing Assistance you could be eligible for.

You might be able to get all or some of your rent paid. The amount of Housing Benefit you receive is determined by:

You won't know how much Housing Benefit you'll receive until you apply. You can use the Turn2us benefits checker to get an estimate before filing a claim.

You can also contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau. An adviser will ask you about your circumstances and will be able to tell you how much Housing Benefit you are entitled to.

If you live with a private landlord,

The 'Local Housing Allowance rate' is the maximum Housing Benefit payment you can usually get. It is determined by:

Your rent may exceed the local housing allowance rate. If it is, you will be responsible for the remaining balance.

GOV.UK allows you to look up the local housing allowance rate in your area. UK

The local housing allowance rate does not apply to all types of tenancies; for example, it may not apply to you if you:

• Your tenancy began before January 15, 1989.

• Since 1996, you've been receiving Housing Benefit for the same property.

• you live in a travel trailer, mobile home, or houseboat

• If you live in sheltered housing, your landlord is a charity or housing association that provides you with care or support.

• You pay rent as part of a shared ownership scheme.

If you believe the local housing allowance rate does not apply to you and want to learn how your Housing Benefit is calculated, contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau.

Other factors may influence how much Housing Benefit you can receive.

Housing Benefit is usually only enough to cover the cost of a bedsit or a room in a shared house or flat. This means that if you rent a 1-bedroom apartment by yourself, your payment may not cover the entire rent.

The limit usually does not apply if you:

• have someone living with you, such as a child or a flatmate
• are you a foster parent?
• are at least 16 years old and have spent at least three months in homeless shelters
• are at least 25 years old and have served their time in prison under the Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA).

If you were previously in care, the limit may not apply until you are 25 years old.

If you have a disability,

If you receive one of the following benefits, the limit will usually not apply:

• Personal Independence Payment, including the component for daily living expenses
• Disability Living Allowance with the middle or highest rate of care
• Allowance for Attendance
• Payment for Armed Forces Independence

If someone receives Carer's Allowance to care for you, the limit will still apply.

Housing Benefit can be claimed for a 2-bed flat if someone needs to stay in a separate room on a regular basis to provide you with overnight care.

If you claim the following, you will automatically be eligible for the maximum amount of Housing Benefit for your type of property:

• The Universal Credit system
• Financial Assistance
• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
• Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) based on income
• the guarantee component of Pension Credit

Some factors may still prevent you from receiving the maximum amount. For example, if you have a roommate who can help you pay the rent or if you have a spare room.

Check to see if you are subject to the benefit cap.

The number of benefits you can receive each week is limited. This is known as the 'benefit cap.'

The benefit cap does not apply to you if you meet the following criteria:

• Working tax credits are available to you.
• You are entitled to certain benefits because you are sick or disabled; see the list of benefits on GOV.UK. UK
• You are over the Pension Credit qualifying age - check your qualifying age on GOV.UK. UK
• You live in a temporary residence.
• If your landlord is a charity, they may provide you with care or support, such as if you live in sheltered housing.

The benefit cap also does not apply if you or your partner stopped working within the last nine months. You must have worked for 50 weeks in the previous year and not received Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance, or Employment and Support Allowance.

If you're not sure how the benefit cap will affect you, you can look into it.

If you are subject to the benefit cap, your total payments cannot exceed the cap, even if you are entitled to the full amount of Housing Benefit.

If you live with your partner, your local council will consider their earnings when determining your Housing Benefit payments.

The council will also consider the income of any other adults who live with you but are not tenants or boarders, such as a grown-up son or daughter. They are referred to as 'non-dependents.'

If you live with a non-dependent, you will usually not receive the maximum amount of Housing Benefit.

Citizens Advice can assist you in determining whether you should receive the maximum amount of Housing Benefit.

If you live in a council or housing association,

The maximum amount of Housing Benefit you can receive is the full amount of rent you must pay.

There are some factors that may influence how much Housing Benefit you can receive.

If you claim the following, you will automatically be eligible for the maximum amount of Housing Benefit for your type of property:

• The Universal Credit system

• Income Assistance

• Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) based on income

• Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) based on income

• the Pension Credit Guarantee

Some factors may still prevent you from receiving the maximum amount. For example, if you have a roommate who can help you pay the rent or if you have a spare room.

Check to see if the benefit cap applies to you.

The number of benefits you can receive each week is limited. This is known as the 'benefit cap.'

The benefit cap does not apply to you if you meet the following criteria:

• You live in a temporary residence.

• If you live in sheltered housing, your landlord is a county council or a housing association, and they provide you with care or support.

If you or your partner stopped working less than 9 months ago, the benefit cap does not apply. You must have worked for 50 weeks in the previous year and not received Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance, or Employment and Support Allowance.

If you're not sure how the benefit cap will affect you, you can look into it.

If you are subject to the benefit cap, your total payments cannot exceed the cap, even if you are eligible for the full amount of Housing Benefit.

You will not usually receive the maximum amount of Housing Benefit because of what is known as 'the bedroom tax' or'spare room subsidy.' You can find out how the bedroom tax affects your Housing Benefit.

If your Housing Benefit is insufficient to cover your rent,

If you claim Housing Benefit, you may also be eligible for a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) if you need assistance paying the remainder of your rent.

The length of time you can get a DHP depends on your circumstances. In the long run, you may need to look for additional work or relocate to a more affordable location.