State pension claimants can claim housing benefit - eligibility explained

Housing benefit claims can be put through by people who have reached state pension age. Single people will be able to put through a new claim for housing benefit with few restrictions.

So long as a claimant is eligible, they may get help from the government for all of their rental costs.

There is no set limit on housing benefit and what a claimant gets will depend on whether they rent privately or from a council.

How much a person receives will depend on their “eligible” rent, if they have a spare room, the household’s income and personal circumstances.

Eligible rent is the amount used to calculate the payment and it is the claimants actual rent plus service charges such as lift maintenance or communal laundry.

If a claimant is a council tenant, it will be paid into a designated rent account and the person involved will not receive the money directly.

Private or housing association tenants will have the money paid directly into a bank or building society account.

Single state pension claimants will not be affected by the benefit cap but couples where one of them is below state pension age may be.

If a claimant is unhappy with a housing benefit decision, they will be able to appeal to their local council.