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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.

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:

Application forms

To get an application form for Housing Benefit and Rate Relief:

Or write to:

Land and Property Services
Housing Benefit Central Unit
Lincoln Building
27-45 Great Victoria Street
Belfast
BT2 7SL

More useful links

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