What does housing benefit cover?
Housing benefit is intended to help with the rent you pay for your accommodation. It is not intended to help with day-to-day costs like food or heating. The amount we can consider paying housing benefit on is called your maximum rent. It may not be the same as the amount you have to pay to your landlord. Housing benefit cannot help with: • mortgage payments • the cost of fuel (unless it relates to a communal area) • the cost of meals • water charges • service charges for personal laundry • service charges for household cleaning (unless neither you nor a member of your household is able to do it for yourselves) • ground rent and service charges for your home if the lease was originally for more than 21 years If your rent includes any of the above, we will make appropriate deductions when we work out your benefit.
Housing benefit is intended to help with the rent you pay for your accommodation. It is not intended to help with day-to-day costs like food or heating. The amount we can consider paying housing benefit on is called your maximum rent. It may not be the same as the amount you have to pay to your landlord. See How do you work out the maximum rent for more information. Housing benefit cannot help with: • Mortgage payments • The cost of fuel (unless it relates to a communal area) • The cost of meals • Water charges • Service charges for personal laundry • Service charges for household cleaning (unless neither you nor a member of your household is able to do it for yourselves) • Ground rent and service charges for your home if the lease was originally for more than 21 years. If your rent includes any of the above, we will make appropriate deductions when we work out your benefit.
