Housing benefit is usually only available for one home. However, the Housing Executive may accept that you have to pay rent on two homes in certain circumstances. You may be able to get housing benefit for both homes for up to 52 weeks, if you intend to return to your original home.

• I'm afraid to go back to my home
  
• I'm a student who has to live away from home
  
• I can't move in yet because my home isn't ready
  
• I had to move into my new home before my notice finished
  

I'm afraid to go back to my home

The Housing Executive may pay for two homes if you have been forced to find temporary accommodation because:

• you were afraid of violence in your home;
• you were afraid of violence from a member of your family.

You don't need to have actually been assaulted. You need to prove that you were afraid of being attacked.

If you intend to return to your home, the Housing Executive can pay housing benefit for temporary accommodation and rent on your usual home for up to 52 weeks. You can only claim for 4 weeks if you don't intend to return to your home.

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I'm a student who has to live away from home

If you are a student who can claim housing benefit, you may be eligible for housing benefit for two homes if it is impossible for you to share your accommodation with your partner. However, most students are not allowed to claim housing benefit.

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I can't move in yet because my home isn't ready

You may be able to get housing benefit for two homes if:

• you (or a family member) are disabled;
• adaptations are being carried out to make your new home suitable;
• the adaptations have not been completed.

The Housing Executive can pay housing benefit for both homes for four weeks.

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I had to move into my new home before my notice finished

The Housing Executive can give you housing benefit for two homes if:

• you had to move into your new home quickly;
• you still have to pay rent for your old home.

The Housing Executive will only pay housing benefit for both homes if you couldn't avoid paying rent on both homes.

For example, you were living in unsuitable accommodation when you were offered suitable accommodation at short notice, forcing you to move into your new home before your notice to your landlord had finished.

The Housing Executive can only pay housing benefit for two homes for four weeks.

You won't get housing benefit for both properties if you are only liable to pay housing costs for one of them, and you are:

• moving into a house that you own;
• moving into temporary accommodation while repairs are carried out to your home;
• moving into residential care with the intention of permanently staying there.

The rules about housing benefit are complicated. Get advice if you think you may be eligible for housing benefit for two homes.

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