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 However, it has now mostly been replaced by Universal Credit.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 applies:
- 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 you started claiming Pension Credit as a couple before 15 May 2019
- You live in supported, sheltered or temporary housing:
- You live in temporary accommodation, such as a bed and breakfast arranged by the council
- You live in a refuge for domestic abuse
- You live in sheltered or supported housing that provides you with 'care, support or supervision'. Your accommodation must be provided by a registered housing provider, usually a housing association, 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 these apply, you can use benefits calculators to check if you’re eligible for Housing Benefit.
Apply for Housing Benefit or Council Tax Support
The Revenues and Benefits Portal is the main way to apply for Housing Benefit or Council Tax Support and manage your claim online.
You should use the portal to:
- make a new claim
- report a change in circumstances
- upload supporting evidence
- view correspondence and updates about your claim
- track the progress of your application
If you can register for the Revenues and Benefits Portal, you should use the portal rather than the direct application form.
Register or sign in to the Revenues and Benefits Portal
If you cannot register for the portal
The direct online application form is only for residents who cannot register for the Revenues and Benefits Portal. This may apply, for example, if you are not liable for Council Tax and cannot create a portal account.
Do not use the direct application form if you can access the Revenues and Benefits Portal.
Apply using the direct online form (only if you are unable to register for the portal)
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. Take these documents to either Enfield Town Library or Edmonton Green Library. Do not send original documents by post.
The Edmonton hub closes at 2pm and the Enfield Town hub closes at 2:45pm on the third Wednesday of each month for staff training.
You can email photos of all other documents to benefits@enfield.gov.uk.
The subject line of your email must be 'Claim reference' followed by your claim reference number, for example, 'Claim reference 123456'.
You can find your claim reference number on any benefit claim correspondence.
Attach your photos to the email and include an explanation if needed.
You will receive an automated response confirming receipt of your email. Wait 10 working days after submitting your application and all required documents before contacting us 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
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