Housing Benefit and Rate Relief

Find out about if you are entitled to Housing Benefit or Rate Relief

Housing Benefit

Housing Benefit is a Social Security benefit to help people on a low income to pay their rent or rates. Land and Property Services is responsible for the administration of Housing Benefit for people who own and occupy their own homes.

If you do not own your own home contact the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) about claiming Housing Benefit or Rate Relief.

Northern Ireland Housing Executive (contacts section)

If you are on a low income, or if you get:

Income Support
Income-based Job Seeker's Allowance, or
Pension credit
and you don't have more than £16,000 saved, you may be able to get help through the Housing Benefit Scheme

Even if you're not sure whether you can claim Housing Benefit, or if you have tried to claim in the past but not been successful, you should apply again, because now you may be entitled help through the Rate Relief Scheme.

Rate Relief Scheme

The Rate Relief Scheme helps you if you are:

a pensioner and you have savings of less than £50,000
getting Housing Benefit for only part of your rate bill or
just outside the income limit for receiving Housing Benefit

Applying for Housing Benefit and Rate Relief

When you apply for Housing Benefit or Rate Relief the same application form is used for both schemes. Your entitlement will depend on:

your income
your savings
your particular personal circumstances (such as having children, having a disability, other people living in the household)
the amount of rates you pay
Housing Benefit and Rate Relief application form (PDF 358 KB)
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