Housing Benefit can help you pay your rent if you’re unemployed, on a low income or claiming benefits. However, it has now mostly been replaced by Universal Credit.
You can now only make a new claim for Housing Benefit if either of the following apply:
- You have reached state pension age:
- You are single
- You and your partner have both reached state pension age
- One of you has reached state pension age and started claiming Pension Credit (as a couple) before 15 May 2019
- You’re in supported, sheltered or temporary housing:
- You are living in temporary accommodation such as a bed and breakfast arranged by the council
- You are living in a refuge for domestic abuse
- You are living in sheltered or supported housing, which provide you with 'care, support or supervision'. Your accommodation must be provided by a registered housing provider, usually a housing association, a charity or voluntary organisation. If you rent and get support from a private landlord, you should claim your housing costs through Universal Credit.
If any of the above apply, you can use benefits calculators to see if you’re eligible for Housing Benefit.
Make a claim for Housing Benefit
Providing evidence to support your claim
When you apply, you will need to provide evidence of your identity, rent, income, savings and other capital.
You may need to provide original proof of identity in person for you and your partner. These should be taken to either Enfield Town Library or Edmonton Green Library. They must not be sent in the post.
Please note: The Edmonton hub is closed from 2pm and the Enfield Town hub from 2:45pm on the third Wednesday of each month for training purposes.
You can email photos of all other documents to revs@enfield.gov.uk. The subject line of your email must be the reference number of your application inside pointed brackets, for example <XXXXXX>. Attach your photos and an explanation if needed.
You will receive an automated response confirming receipt of your email. You should wait 10 working days after submitting your application and all required documents before asking about your application.
When you may not be able to claim Housing Benefit
Usually, you will not get Housing Benefit if you:
- have savings over £16,000 - unless you get Guarantee Pension Credit
- are paying a mortgage on your own home - you may be able to get Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI)
- live in the home of a close relative
- are already claiming Universal Credit (unless you’re in temporary or supported housing)
- live with your partner and they are already claiming Housing Benefit
- are a full-time student
- are living in the UK as a European Economic Area (EEA) jobseeker
- are an asylum seeker or sponsored to be in the UK
- are subject to immigration control and your granted leave states that you cannot claim public funds
- are a Crown Tenant
- have 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 also refer to information on: