If you are on a low income there may be support with your rent. If you are under retirement age you will usually need to claim the housing element of Universal Credit to get help towards your rent.
However, if you are over the retirement age, you may be able to make a new claim for housing benefit. Depending on your income, they may agree to pay some or all of your rent. If you claim any pension credit, they will automatically pay the full housing benefit you are entitled to.
Please note: Housing payments are sometimes capped. If you live in social housing, you may be affected by the bedroom tax. If you live in private rented, your benefit will be capped by the Local Housing Allowance.
Mental Health
If you claim disability benefit for your mental health, there may be exemptions from some of the caps the government have placed on housing benefit. This counts if you are on Universal Credit or Housing Benefit. If you are not getting enough to cover your full rent, and you have illnesses or disabilities, seek advice about whether you may be covered by these exemptions.
Hospital
If you are in hospital, Universal Credit will pay your housing costs for the first 6 months that you are hospitalised. After this time, your housing costs will stop until you leave hospital. If you claim housing benefit, housing costs will only end after 52 weeks.
Application
In Manchester you can claim housing benefit through an online application to the council
If you need help with this call 0161 234 5003.
Further information about Housing Benefit can be found here:
