Apply for housing benefit
You may get housing benefit to help you pay your rent if you’re on a low income and meet one or more of the following:
- you are single and of State Pension age or you are a couple and you are both of State Pension age.
- you receive Pension Credit and your capital is less than £16,000 unless you receive Guaranteed Pension Credit.
- you are living in a property which has been designated as specified accommodation by the local authority, where care and support is being provided.
- you are living in temporary accommodation having been placed there by the local authority’s housing team.
Your eligibility to claim housing benefit will be affected by:
- your income, which includes earnings and benefits received by your household.
- your savings, if they are less than £16,000 unless you receive Guaranteed Pension Credit.
- the income of anyone else who lives with you such as grown up children or parents.
If you are on a low income and do not meet the criteria to claim housing benefit you will need to claim Universal Credit for help with your housing costs.
Apply for housing benefit
Evidence you will need to provide for you and your partner (if appropriate):
- Proof of identity – passport, driving licence, birth certificate, marriage certificate
- Proof of National Insurance number – payslip, benefit award letter
- Proof of Universal Credit - Full breakdown of the latest Universal Credit award
- Proof of benefits – latest award letter, bank statements
- Proof of earnings – last five weekly/three fortnightly/two monthly payslips
- Proof of self-employment – most recent set of audited accounts
- Proof of private pensions – payslips, bank statements
- Proof of capital – statements for all bank/building society/post office/PayPal accounts held showing balance and transactions for last two months, ISA statements, share/Premium Bond certificates
- Proof of non-dependant income – payslips, benefit award letters, full breakdown of Universal Credit award
All supporting evidence must be provided within one calendar month of the application being submitted otherwise the application will be made defective. Evidence can be uploaded when you submit your application or emailed to benefits@cheltenham.gov.uk or posted to the benefits team here at the council.
Apply for housing benefit onlineWe are aware of an issue with forms not saving properly and this feature is currently unavailable. All forms will need to be completed in one session.
If you cannot apply online for any reason, contact the benefit team on 01242 264341 or email benefits@cheltenham.gov.uk to request assistance.
Check you have provided the evidence requested (either via the online form or by emailing the benefit team) as your application cannot be processed without it.
Deciding applications
We aim to decide complete applications with all required supporting evidence within 14 days. We will let you know when your claim has been assessed.
Backdating a claim
If you haven't been able to apply for benefits immediately we may be able to backdate your application.
Housing benefit rates
If you rent from a private landlord housing benefit is calculated under the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) scheme and is based on:
- the area you live in which is known as the Broad Rental Market Area (BRMA)
- the number of bedrooms you require
- the shared room rate applies to applicants aged under 35
One bedroom is allowed per single adult applicant and adult couple plus one additional bedroom for:
- any other adult aged 16 or over
- any two children under the age of 10
- any two children of the same sex under the age of 16
- any other child
Find the LHA rates for your household
If you rent from a registered social landlord, housing benefit is calculated based on your weekly eligible rent. The amount may be affected if you have a spare bedroom. For more details about having a spare bedroom, see GOV.UK