Housing Benefit (for rates) and Rate Relief

Housing benefit

Housing benefit is a social security benefit to help people on a low income to pay their rates.

Your entitlement to housing benefit for rates may depend on the amount of rates you owe, or whether you have children, a disability, or other people in your household.

Your entitlement to housing benefit for rates will depend on several factors. You should consider applying if:

you have savings of less than £16,000;

you are on a low income or wage;

you are claiming Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income related Employment and Support Allowance or Pension Credit.

People under 60

If you are under 60 and have between £6,000 and £16,000 in savings, you may still be eligible for housing benefit, but at a reduced rate.

However, if you are under 60 and have over £16,000 in capital and savings, you will not be eligible for housing benefit.

People over 60

If you are over 60, or in receipt of the guarantee element of pension credit, up to £10,000 of your savings will be ignored in the calculation of housing benefit.

Anything between £10,000 and £16,000 is considered and affects the amount of support provided. If you have savings over £16,000 you will not qualify for housing benefit, but may still qualify for rate relief.

If you applied for housing benefit before and were unsuccessful, apply again. Find out more information by contacting Land & Property Services:

helpline on 0845 300 6360

minicom 0845 300 6361

freephone 0800 587 7477.

Rate relief scheme

When you apply for housing benefit, you will be assessed for rate relief. Rate relief is means tested and is in addition to any available housing benefit.

If you do not qualify for housing benefit, or only receive partial housing benefit, you may be entitled to rate relief. In these circumstances, you should fill in a new claim form to apply for rate relief.

When you apply, Land & Property Services will look at your income and your savings to decide if you are eligible. If your finances are within an allowed range, you may be able to get a discount to your rate bill.

Ratepayers over 60, or those in receipt of the guarantee element of pension credit, are allowed to own up to £50,000 in savings and capital and are eligible for rate relief.

Up to £10,000 of their savings will be ignored in the calculation of both housing benefit and rate relief. Anything between £10,000 and £50,000 will be considered and will affect the amount of support provided.

How much of my bill will be covered?

Both of these benefits are assessed by measuring your excess income.

Your excess income is the difference between what you earn, and what the government thinks are the average earnings of anyone in the same position as you.

You can use NI Direct’s online Benefit Adviser to check what you could be entitled to. This service is independent of Housing Rights Service and we are not responsible for the accuracy of the content or its results.

How do I apply?

If you own your home, you apply for housing benefit and rate relief on the same application form. Contact Land & Property Services for a copy of the form or, alternatively, download the application form from our resources section (PDF 165.85 kB).

You must complete this form and return it to Land & Property Services. They will decide which relief (if any) you are eligible for.

If you rent, or live in social housing, contact your local Housing Executive district office to apply.

In both cases you can telephone Land & Property Services' rates relief helpline on 0845 300 6360.