How much Housing Benefit and Rate Relief a homeowner can get
Housing Benefit and Rate Relief help a homeowner pay the rates bill for their property. The award is means-tested. When you apply, the Housing Executive will assess your income, savings and household circumstances. This determines if you’ll get any help to pay your rates.
Universal Credit
You can't claim Housing Benefit for rates if you receive Universal Credit. To get help paying your rates, you must claim Rate Rebate.
How applications for Housing Benefit and Rate Relief are assessed
The amount of Housing Benefit and Rate Relief depends on your income and household circumstances.
The Housing Executive takes into account:
- income to your household, including benefits and earnings
- the amount of capital you have, including savings, shares and additional properties
- disregarded income - certain benefits or savings below a set amount
These factors make up your 'qualifying income'.
Applicable amount
The Housing Executive compares your qualifying income to your applicable amount. This is the weekly amount the government says you and your family need to maintain a basic standard of living, based on your particular circumstances.
Weekly income lower than your applicable amount
If your qualifying income is lower than your applicable amount, you might be entitled to additional help from:
- Social Security Agency
- Northern Ireland Pension Centre
- HM Revenue & Customs tax credits
Weekly income higher than your applicable amount
If your qualifying income is higher than your applicable amount, you might be eligible for some Housing Benefit and Rate Relief. When this happens, you will receive a bill for some of your rates which you must pay.
If other adults live in your home, other than your partner or joint owner, the Housing Executive assumes they contribute to rate payments even if they don’t. You might lose some of your Housing Benefit and Rate Relief award.
You are awarded Housing Benefit and Rate Relief
The Housing Executive will send you a decision letter about your application.
If you are awarded Housing Benefit and Rate Relief which covers your weekly rates, you don’t pay any rates for this period.
You are awarded some Housing Benefit and Rate Relief
When you get partial Housing Benefit and Rate Relief, you’re responsible for paying the rates that aren’t covered by the award. Your decision letter will explain how much rates you have to pay weekly.
What Housing Benefit and Rate Relief covers
The Housing Benefit and Rate Relief amount is for the rating period covered by the award. Your total rates bill may be different if you owe rates for earlier periods. You will receive a rates bill telling you how much you must pay and when payment is due. If you don’t pay your rates bill, LPS will take legal action against you.
If you’re awarded the maximum amount, this will cover your rates bill in full. If your award does not cover your full rates, you’ll have to pay the rates not covered.
How Housing Benefit and Rate Relief is paid to homeowners
If you're entitled to any Housing Benefit and Rate Relief, the Housing Executive will issue the amount you are awarded to LPS who will credit this amount to your rates bill. You don’t receive the money from the Housing Executive.
When Housing Benefit and Rate Relief are paid
Housing Benefit and Rate Relief are paid to the end of the rating year in one of these ways:
- a lump sum for the whole rating year 1 April to 31 March
- from the start of your claim to the end of the rating year
Changes to your income or household
If you receive Housing Benefit and Rate Relief and your personal or household circumstances change, you must tell the right organisation. Certain changes can affect your entitlement to help paying your rates.
You can find out more details about the Change of circumstances and suitable evidence.