Homeowners who can apply
There are two different qualifying criteria for new Housing Benefit and Rate Relief claims, depending if you are working age or state pension age.
If both you and your partner (if you have one) have reached pension age you must:
- not have capital over £50k.
If you or your partner are of working age you must:
- be an owner occupier
- already get a benefit that includes Severe Disability Premium
- not be in a co-ownership or rental buy scheme
- not have capital over £16,000
- not already get Housing Benefit and Rate Relief from the Housing Executive (NIHE)
- not already get Universal Credit
Receiving Universal Credit
You can't claim Housing Benefit and Rate Relief to help pay your rates if you're of working age and can claim or already get Universal Credit. You must apply for Rate Rebate if you want help paying your rates.
Homeowners already receiving other allowances
If you are entitled to other allowance schemes for rates, such as Disabled Person’s Allowance (DPA) or Lone Pensioner’s Allowance (LPA), LPS will consider this when assessing your application for Housing Benefit and Rate Relief. Housing Benefit and Rate Relief are means-tested and depend on your income.
Your income and household
To assess your application for Housing Benefit and Rate Relief, LPS needs information about your income and household circumstances. They’ll ask about:
- you and your partner, if you have one
- your children or anyone living with you
- anyone you share ownership of the property with, other than your partner
- you and your partner’s income, including any benefits you already receive as wages, grants, pensions (from your former employer), or any income you receive from additional property or land you own
- capital you and your partner have in stocks, shares, bank, building society or savings accounts
Applying for Housing Benefit and Rate Relief
To apply for Housing Benefit and Rate Relief as a homeowner, you must complete an application form and send the form to Land & Property Services (LPS), along with supporting documents.