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Housing Benefit for pensioners
Housing Benefit is now mainly for people over State Pension age who rent. Working-age renters claim help with rent through Universal Credit instead (unless they live in supported or temporary housing).
Who can get it
- You pay rent and have reached State Pension age.
- If you live with a partner, you've both reached State Pension age (or you had a claim as a couple from before 15 May 2019).
- Your savings are £16,000 or less, unless you get Pension Credit guarantee.
- You can rent from a private landlord, the council or a housing association.
See what you could get
Answer a few plain questions and get a list of the benefits and help you're likely to get, with amounts and links to apply.
Check what I can getHow much
If you get Pension Credit guarantee, Housing Benefit can pay all your eligible rent. Otherwise the council compares your weekly income with your weekly needs (the 'applicable amount', £238.00 single or £363.25 for a couple in 2026-27, or £256.00 and £383.35 if you reached State Pension age before April 2021) and takes off 65p from the help for every £1 you're over.
Savings over £10,000 count as £1 a week of income for each £500. Private rents are limited to the Local Housing Allowance for your area. If other adults live with you, a 'non-dependant deduction' is taken off: from £20.40 a week up to £131.45, depending on their income.
| Example | Per week |
|---|---|
| Rent | £150.00 |
| Income (State Pension and small pension) | £260.00 |
| Weekly needs, single | £238.00 |
| Income over needs: £22.00 × 65% | £14.30 |
| Housing Benefit | £135.70 |
Homeowners
Housing Benefit doesn't cover a mortgage. If you get Pension Credit or Universal Credit you may be offered Support for Mortgage Interest, a loan towards the interest that you pay back when the home is sold. Pension Credit can also help with service charges and ground rent.
Short of money for rent?
If Housing Benefit or Universal Credit doesn't cover your rent, ask your council for a Discretionary Housing Payment.
How to apply
- England, Scotland and Wales: apply through your council on GOV.UK. If you're claiming Pension Credit, you can claim Housing Benefit in the same phone call.
- Northern Ireland: apply to the Housing Executive for rent, and Land and Property Services for rates.
Sources
Every figure on this page is copied from these official pages, for April 2026 to March 2027 (checked 3 November 2026):
This is a guide, not advice. The office that runs each benefit decides who gets it. Rules can change.