Housing Benefit
Manage my Housing Benefit online
You can manage your Housing Benefit online using the following account:
- Housing Benefit account
Housing Benefit account
You can:
- view upcoming and past payments
- get proof of your entitlement
To register or sign in for the first time, you'll need:
- Your Housing Benefit reference number (you will find this on any Housing Benefit letters we have sent)
- Your National Insurance number
Please note: you must already be claiming Housing Benefit to use this service
You will need a My Account to use this service.
If you are not registered for a My Account
You can create an account by choosing ‘Register’ and providing an email address and password.
You will then need to add your Council Tax account reference to your My Account Homepage and then select ‘View my Council Tax Account’
Then select 'Register' under the Benefits heading.
To register or sign in for the first time, you'll need:
- Your Housing Benefit claim reference number (you will find this on any Housing Benefit letters we have sent)
- Your National Insurance Number
Sign in to your Housing Benefit account
How do I apply for Housing Benefit?
Housing Benefit is means-tested. This means that your income and savings are taken into consideration when applying.
On this page:
When will your Housing Benefit start
Before you apply
Please check that you are eligible to claim Housing Benefit.
If you are eligible, please apply as soon as possible – as payments can’t always be backdated
You’ll need:
- Proof of ID e.g. driving licence, passport, bank statement, marriage certificate, utility bill (for you and your partner)
- Other documents like your tenancy agreement, payslips or pension advice slips.
To apply
- Complete an online Housing Benefit application form
- Upload supporting evidence (if you have not already done this as part of your initial application)
You will need a My Account to use this service.
If you are not registered for a My Account
You can create an account by choosing 'Register' and providing an email address and password.
You will then need to add your Council Tax account reference to your My Account Homepage and then select ‘View my Council Tax Account’
Then select ‘New Claims’ and ‘Make a New Claim’ under the Benefits heading.
Other ways to apply
Request an application form:
- Email: revenue.services@pembrokeshire.gov.uk
- Phone: (01437) 764551 (Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm)
After you apply
- Make a note of your claim reference number in case you need to get in touch with us.
- We will review your application form and be in touch if we need any more information.
Important
Tell us straight away if:
- you think you’ve been overpaid
- your circumstances change e.g. income going up or down, changes to pension or savings, partner moving in or out of your household etc…
As you may have to pay back your Housing Benefit if you’ve been overpaid.
When will your Housing Benefit start
Usually from the Monday after we get your application.
You can ask for it to be backdated if you had a good reason for not applying sooner.
- Working age: up to 1 month (if it is felt there is a good reason for the delayed application)
- Pension-age: up to 3 months (this will be automatically updated)
You will need to:
- Request a backdated payment in your initial online application form
or
- Call us to request a backdated payment application form
- 01437 764551 (Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm)
Please note: You must provide details of why you did not apply earlier
How do you work out how much Housing Benefit I'm entitled to?
On this page:
Housing Benefit entitlement if you are a Council or Housing Association tenant
Housing Benefit entitlement if you are a private tenant
Council or Housing Association tenants
How much housing benefit you get depends on:
- your ‘eligible*’ rent
- if you have a spare room
- your household income - including benefits, pensions and savings (over £6,000)
- your circumstances, for example the age of people in the house or if someone has a disability
*Your eligible rent is the amount used to calculate your Housing Benefit claim. It's your actual rent plus any eligible service charges you pay (such as for lift maintenance or a communal laundry) but not things like heating costs for your home.
How we calculate Housing Benefit based on the number of spare bedrooms
Spare bedrooms
Your Housing Benefit could be reduced if you live in council or social housing and have a spare bedroom.
The reduction is:
- 14% of the ‘eligible rent’ for 1 spare bedroom
- 25% of the ‘eligible rent’ for 2 or more spare bedrooms
Example
Your eligible rent is £100 per week, but you have 1 spare bedroom. That means your eligible rent is reduced by 14%, to £86 per week. Your Housing Benefit will be calculated using that figure.
Please note: The reduction of Housing Benefit for spare bedrooms only applies if you are under pension age.
Sharing bedrooms
The following are expected to share:
- an adult couple
- 2 children under 16 of the same sex
- 2 children under 10 (regardless of sex)
The following can have their own bedroom:
- a single adult (16 or over)
- a child that would normally share but shared bedrooms are already taken, for example you have 3 children and 2 already share
- a couple or children who cannot share because of a disability or medical condition
- an overnight carer for you, your partner, your child or another adult - this is only if the carer does not live with you but sometimes has to stay overnight
One spare bedroom is allowed for:
- an approved foster carer who is between placements but only for up to 52 weeks from the end of the last placement
- a newly approved foster carer for up to 52 weeks from the date of approval if no child is placed with them during that time
Please note: Rooms used by students and members of the armed or reserve forces will not be counted as ‘spare’ if they’re away and intend to return home.
Private tenants
How much Housing Benefit you get depends on:
- your Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rate or
- your ‘eligible*’ rent
**Whichever is lower**
- your household income including benefits, pensions and savings
*Your eligible rent is the amount used to calculate your Housing Benefit claim. It's your actual rent plus any eligible service charges you pay (such as for lift maintenance or a communal laundry) but not things like heating costs for your home.
Local Housing Allowance (LHA)
Your Local Housing Allowance rate, will depend on:
- How many bedrooms you need
- The number of people in your household
- The area you live in
Please note: Most single private renters under 35 only get the shared accommodation rate of Local Housing Allowance, even if they don’t share their home with anyone.
There are some circumstances where the shared accommodation rate does not apply even if you are under 35, including if you:
- are under the age of 25 and used to be in care
- are severely disabled
- share with another adult who is a member of your family (known as a non-dependent)
- are aged between 16-34 and have spent three months in a homeless hostel
Number of bedrooms
The maximum number of bedrooms you are allowed to claim for under the Local Housing Allowance is 4.
You can still rent a larger house, but you will only get benefit for up to 4 bedrooms.
You are assessed as needing a bedroom for each of the following:
- adult couple
- other adult aged over 16 or over
- two children of the same sex up to the age of 16
- two children regardless of sex under the age of 10
- any other child
- a non-resident carer if you are claiming middle or higher rate care Disability Living Allowance (opens in a new tab) or Attendance Allowance (opens in a new tab)
- a member of a couple who can’t share a bedroom because of a disability
- a disabled child under 16 who can’t share a room because of their disability
- a child in the armed forces who is away on duty and who lived with you before they went away and intends to return.
An extra bedroom is allowed if you need one for a:
- foster child or children
- non-resident carer (or team of carers) who regularly stays overnight to provide care to you or another household member because of a disability
You can use the Local Housing Allowance website (opens in a new tab) to help you calculate the maximum number of bedrooms you are entitled to.
How are Housing Benefit payments made?
Council tenants
- Payments will be made weekly to your rent account (apart from rent free weeks)
Private tenants
- Payments will be made every two weeks into your bank account
Housing Association tenants
- Payments will be made every two weeks into your bank account
- You can choose to have it paid to your landlord every four weeks
We may pay landlords directly if:
- You’re 8+ weeks behind on rent
- You have trouble managing money
- You're unlikely to pay rent
Can I claim Housing Benefit?
What is Housing Benefit?
Housing Benefit can help you pay all or some of your rent if you’re unemployed, on a low income or claiming benefits.
Please note: Housing Benefit is being replaced by Universal Credit (opens in a new tab) for working age people.
Who can still claim Housing Benefit?
Housing Benefit is still an option if you are:
- already receiving it
- of state pension age
- in supported, sheltered, or temporary housing.
If you meet one of these requirements, then Housing Benefit is available to you if you are:
- A council or housing association tenant
- In shared ownership (for the rent part)
- Renting from a private landlord
- Paying rent for mooring a houseboat
- Paying rent for a pitch for a mobile home or caravan
You can claim Housing Benefit whether you are:
- Working or unemployed
- Receiving other benefits, tax credits or pensions
- Caring for someone
- Unable to work due to illness or disability
- Retired
But you won’t qualify if you have £16,000 or more in savings/assets, unless you're getting Pension Credit Guarantee Credit.
Help with Council Tax
You may also be able to get a Council Tax Reduction
Not sure if you are eligible?
Contact us:
- Email: revenue.services@pembrokeshire.gov.uk
- Phone: 01437 764551 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.)
How do I report a change in circumstance?
If you receive Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction, it's important to report any changes in your circumstance (or changes in circumstance for anyone in your household) immediately to avoid issues with your benefits.
On this page:
When to report a change in circumstance
Report a change in circumstance
Upload supporting evidence after you have reported a change in circumstance
What happens after you have reported a change in circumstance
What happens if you don’t report a change in circumstance
When to report a change in circumstance
You must tell us immediately if:
- Your income changes e.g.
- wages
- pensions
- Working Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit
- You start or stop receiving any benefits e.g.
- Universal Credit*
- Jobseeker's Allowance
- Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Support
- Carers Allowance
Please note*
If you receive Universal Credit, you will need to report any changes in your circumstance to:
Universal Credit Services Centre
- Tel: 0345 6000 723 or 0845 6000 723
They will let us know about any changes to your Universal Credit.
- There are ‘significant’ changes e.g. increase in money of more than £16,000 in your:
- bank account(s)
- savings
- stocks or shares
- you move to a new address.
- someone moves in or out of your household
- someone you live with starts or stops work so their income changes
- you or someone in your household goes into hospital or a care home
- you have a new baby
- a child leaves or changes school
- you become a student
- you complete your further education or training
If you rent privately or rent through a Housing Association, you must tell us if:
- your rent amount changes
- any services included in your rent change e.g. communal charges, heating, water etc…
- something changes in the shared property you live in e.g. you move into a different room, or you rent more rooms in the same property
- your landlord changes
Please note:
- Council tenants do not need to tell us about changes to their rent.
- Landlords who are receiving Housing Benefit payments directly must report any changes in circumstances that they become aware of.
Report a change in circumstance
Evidence you may need to provide
We will need to see proof of the change you are telling us about.
This may include:
- Notice of rent increase
- Pay slips
- Bank statements
We will contact you if we need more evidence or information.
If you are moving house and are a private tenant or Housing Association tenant, you will need to provide:
- A copy of your new tenancy agreement showing:
- your name
- tenancy start date
- rent amount and how often you make a rent payment e.g. weekly, monthly etc…
- any additional service charges included in the rent e.g. heating, water
- Recent payslips.
- Bank statements.
- Notice of rent increase.
Report a change in circumstance
Upload supporting evidence after you have reported a change in circumstance
If you have reported a change in circumstance but not uploaded your supporting evidence yet…
You can:
- upload documents online
or
- email photos/scanned documents to: revenue.services@pembrokeshire.gov.uk
Please remember to provide your:
- Claim reference number
or
- National Insurance number
You will need a My Account to use this service.
If you are not registered for a My Account
You can create an account by choosing ‘Register’ and providing an email address and password.
You will then need to add your Council Tax account reference to your My Account Homepage and then select ‘View my Council Tax Account’
Then select 'Register' under the Benefits heading.
To register or sign in for the first time, you'll need:
- Your Council Tax Reduction/Housing Benefit claim reference number (you will find this on any Council Tax Reduction or Housing Benefit letters we have sent)
- Your National Insurance Number
Please note: you must already be claiming Council Tax Reduction or Housing Benefit to use this service
What happens after you have reported a change in circumstance
We will:
- Contact you if more information is needed.
- Inform you of any changes to your benefit amount.
- Let you know if you've been overpaid.
- Explain how your benefit was recalculated.
- Provide guidance if you think there's an error in your benefit amount/payments
What happens if you don’t report a change in circumstance
If you don’t report any changes to us within one month this may mean:
- we have given you too much Housing Benefit. You would then need to pay back any extra money you have received
or
- you are not claiming all your entitlements and you are missing out on additional benefits/payments
What if I think a Housing Benefit decision is wrong?
Act quickly
- Timeframe: You need to write to us within one month of the date on your decision letter.
- Late requests: If more than a month has passed, you can still request a reconsideration or appeal up to 13 months from the decision date, but you'll need to explain the reason for the delay
You must write to us if you want to:
- Request a ‘Statement of reasons’: Ask for a detailed explanation of the decision.
- Request a ‘Reconsideration’: Ask for the decision to be reviewed again.
- Appeal to an Independent tribunal: If you're still dissatisfied after reconsideration, you can appeal to an independent tribunal.
To request a review
or
- write to Revenue Services, Pembrokeshire County Council, County Hall, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire SA61 1TP
- Please include your:
- name
- address
- claim reference number
Information to include in your request
- Which decision you want to be explained or reconsidered.
- Why you think the decision is wrong.
- Any additional factors you think should be considered.
Please note: The person who made the benefit claim must make the request.
What happens next
If the decision is changed
- Your benefit entitlement will be corrected, and you'll receive a new decision letter.
If the decision stays the same
- You'll receive a confirmation letter.
- You can still appeal to an independent tribunal if you disagree.
If you appeal
- Your appeal will be sent to an independent tribunal (separate from the Council).
- The tribunal will contact you with details about the next steps and when your appeal will be heard.
Discretionary Housing Payments
The Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) scheme can give you limited short term help paying your rent.
Before we can give you a DHP:
- You can only apply if you already receive Housing Benefit (HB) or the housing element is included in your Universal Credit (UC)
- You must require additional help with your housing costs i.e. have a shortfall between your rent and benefit entitlement
- You must have already spoken with your housing provider about your rent payments
- The council must have sufficient funds available to cover the cost of your DHP.
You cannot use it for:
- Ineligible service charges for HB
- Increases in rent due to outstanding rent arrears
- Sanctions and reductions in benefit
- Council Tax support through the local Council Tax Reduction Scheme.
We take into account:
- The shortfall between HB and the housing component of UC and the contractual rent
- The income and expenditure of you and your household
- Any savings or capital held by you or your household
- Any steps taken to reduce your rental liability. For example, have you tried or are you actively seeking alternative cheaper accommodation
- Any future changes in circumstances that will lead to an increase in HB entitlement or UC entitlement
- Did you find out what your Local Housing Allowance would be before moving into the property?
- Were you aware of any restrictions on HB as a result of under occupation?
- Have you applied for all available sources of income available to you?
- The level of debt and committed expenditure of you and your family.
How to apply
- Please read the Discretionary Housing Payment Guidance Notes before you complete the application form
- Download and complete the Discretionary Housing Payment Application Form
- You must also provide evidence of your current expenditure.