Help with rent payments

If you have cancer and are on a low income, you may be able to get help with your rent.

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What help is available?

If you are living with cancer and are on a low income, you may be able to get help with your rent payments. You may be able to get one of the following:

Universal Credit for housing costs

If you are eligible for Universal Credit, you may be able to get an extra amount of money to help pay your rent or some service charges, such as:

  • shared facilities – for example, rubbish collection or lifts
  • rental of some essential items – for example, domestic appliances
  • window cleaning of upper floors.

The extra money is called a housing element or payment.

How much Universal Credit housing payment could I get?

The amount you can get depends on your situation.

If you rent from a private landlord

If you rent from a private landlord, your housing payment is worked out using Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates.

LHA rates are based on the cost of renting in your area and how many rooms you need. If your home has more than 1 bedroom, the amount you can claim depends on:

  • where you live
  • your income
  • how many people live in your house.

Your rent might be higher than the amount you can claim. If so, you must pay the difference yourself. You may be able to get extra help through a Discretionary Housing Payment. See more information below.

If your rent is lower than the LHA rate, you can only get the amount you need to pay your rent. You cannot get more than this amount. The amount must not be higher than the benefit cap, if the cap applies to you.

If you do not live with a partner or children

If you do not live with a partner or dependent children, your housing payment depends on your age.

If you are under 35, you can usually only get housing payment for 1 bedroom in shared accommodation. This is called the Local Housing Allowance shared accommodation rate. This limit does not apply in some situations. For example, if you get a disability benefit.

If you are 35 or older, you may be able to get housing payment for a 1 bedroom property.

If you rent from a housing authority

Your housing payment usually covers your full rent and some service charges if you rent from:

  • a local council
  • the Northern Ireland Housing Executive
  • a housing association.

Your payment may be less than your rent if you have more bedrooms than you need in your house. You may get housing payment for an extra bedroom if you:

  • need an overnight carer
  • are a couple who cannot share a room because of a disability
  • have children who cannot share a room because of a disability.

You may be able to get help through a Discretionary Housing Payment. See below for more information about this, or call our money advisers free on 0808 808 00 00, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.

If you are claiming for services charges, remember that not all service charges qualify. Check if you can get support. You should also make sure you get bills from your landlord or property management company showing any service charges you pay.

If you rent and have another adult in your household

Your housing payment is usually less if you live with someone who is aged 21 or older and is not your partner. They are expected to help with housing costs. This rule applies if you rent from:

  • a private landlord
  • local authority
  • the Housing Executive
  • a housing association.

Your housing payment is not reduced if you:

Also, your housing payment is not reduced if the person aged 21 or older:

  • gets Pension Credit
  • gets the daily living component of PIP or ADP
  • gets the care component of DLA at the middle or highest rate
  • gets AA or PADP
  • gets Carer’s Allowance
  • is responsible for a child under the age of 5
  • is your sub-tenant, lodger or boarder.

If you pay rent on 2 homes

Your housing payment can cover rent on 2 homes at the same time if:

  • you rent from a housing authority and they have housed your family in 2 properties because your family is large
  • you have moved out because of fear of violence or abuse, are paying rent somewhere else, and intend to come back
  • you have started renting a new home with a disabled family member, but it has not been adapted to their needs yet.

If you own your home

You may get a housing payment to help with some service charges if:

  • you or your partner own the home you live in – this includes if you own a leasehold property
  • you live in a shared ownership property.

Not all service charges qualify, so it is important to check if you can get support. You should also make sure you get bills showing any service charges you pay.

If you live in a home that you own, you may also be able to get Support for Mortgage Interest.

If you live in a shared ownership property, you may be paying rent and mortgage payments. You may be able to get both a Universal credit housing payment for rent and service charges and Support for Mortgage Interest. You must pay the money you get to your housing association and mortgage company.

Can I claim the Universal Credit housing payment?

You may be able to get the housing payment as part of your Universal Credit if:

  • you are responsible for paying rent, or service charges if you pay these
  • you, or your partner, own your home and need to pay service charges.

You do not usually qualify for a housing payment if you:

  • live in the home of a close family member
  • are a full-time student, unless exceptions apply.

You cannot get Universal credit to pay for temporary, emergency, supported or sheltered housing. You should apply for Housing Benefit instead.

How is the Universal Credit housing payment paid?

Your housing payment is usually paid as part of your Universal credit payment. You then use the money to pay your rent, service charges or both.

There may be other options if you are using the money to pay rent. The rules depend on where you live.

  • If you live in England or Wales

    If you live in England or Wales, and you are not behind on your rent, your housing payment is paid to you. You then pay your landlord.

    If you are struggling with your rent, you can choose to have your housing payment sent to your landlord instead. This is called an alternative payment arrangement. You can apply for this through your local Jobcentre Plus. Your landlord can also apply.

    Universal Credit, including housing payment, is paid once a month. It is important to think about this when organising your budget if your rent is due every week.

  • If you live in Scotland

    If you live in Scotland, you can choose whether to have your housing payment paid to you or to your landlord. You can also choose to be paid every 2 weeks or monthly.

  • If you live in Northern Ireland

    If you live in Northern Ireland, your housing payment is paid to your landlord. You can ask for the housing payment to be paid to you instead, if you are not behind with your rent or in debt. Universal Credit, including housing payment, is usually paid every 2 weeks. But you can choose to get monthly payments instead.

Special circumstances

The amount you get in your housing payment may change if the number of people in your household changes. There are special rules if your household changes because a family member who was living with you dies. You are paid the same amount of housing payment for the rest of that month, and for the next 2 months.

How to claim the Universal Credit housing payment

If you already get Universal Credit, you can apply for a housing payment though your online account. If not, you can apply online at GOV.UK

You can also apply by calling the Universal Credit helpline:

  • In England, Scotland and Wales, call 0800 328 5644 or 0800 328 1744 for Welsh language. Or use textphone 0800 328 1344. If you cannot hear or speak on the phone, use Relay UK on 18001 then 0800 328 5644. If you use British Sign Language, use the video relay service.
  • In Northern Ireland, call 0800 012 1331 or use textphone 0800 012 1441. If you use British Sign Language or Irish Sign Language, use the video relay service.

It helps to have as much information as you can. This includes:

  • your tenancy agreement if you have one
  • information about your landlord, rent, service charges or mortgage.

You usually have an interview at your local Jobcentre Plus or Jobs and Benefits office within 7 days of making your claim.

If you cannot go because of your condition or treatment, you should tell them straight away.

You may need to bring:

  • your current tenancy agreement, rent statement or rent book
  • a signed letter from your landlord that says you live at the property, pay rent and live there legally
  • details of service charges you pay
  • a current mortgage agreement, mortgage statement or bank statement showing mortgage payments
  • details of any loan agreements secured on your property.

At the interview, you will complete a claimant commitment with your work coach. This is a record of the responsibilities you will have if you get Universal Credit.

If you rent from a housing authority, your landlord will complete a form to confirm your housing costs. This is called a housing costs verification form. The completed form is added to your online account.

You should be told within 3 weeks of making a claim when to expect your payment. You can check your online account for this information.

What is Housing Benefit?

Housing Benefit may help pay your rent and some service charges if you are unemployed, have a low income or are claiming benefits.

For most people who are under State Pension age, Universal Credit has replaced Housing Benefit. If you currently get Housing Benefit, your claim may eventually move to Universal Credit. You do not need to do anything or change your claim to Universal Credit unless:

  • you are told to by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in England, Scotland and Wales or the Department for Communities (DfC) in Northern Ireland
  • you are making a new claim
  • there is a change in your circumstances.

Who can claim Housing Benefit?

You can claim Housing Benefit if you are State Pension age or you live in supported, sheltered or temporary housing.

If you are State Pension age and live with a partner, you can only start getting Housing Benefit if any of the following applies:

You will not usually get Housing Benefit if:

  • you have over £16,000 in savings - unless you get the Guarantee Credit part of Pension Credit
  • you live in the home of a close relative
  • you are already claiming Universal Credit - unless you live in supported, sheltered or temporary housing
  • you, or your partner, are not responsible for paying the rent
  • you are a full-time student.

How much Housing Benefit could I get?

The amount of Housing Benefit you get is worked out in a similar way to the housing payment of Universal Credit. It cannot be higher than the benefit cap, if this applies to you.

Your rent might be higher than the amount you get. If so, you must pay the difference yourself. You may be able to get extra help through a Discretionary Housing Payment. See below for more information. 

To find out the full rules, if you live in England, Scotland or Wales, visit GOV.UK

If you live in Northern Ireland, visit nihe.gov.uk

You can also call our money advisers for free on 0808 808 00 00, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.

How do I claim Housing Benefit?

To apply for Housing Benefit in England, Scotland or Wales, contact your local council. You can find details of your local council at GOV.UK

To apply for Housing Benefit in Northern Ireland contact the Housing Executive. Call 0344 8920 902 or visit nihe.gov.uk

Discretionary Housing Payments

A Universal Credit housing payment or Housing Benefit may not cover all your rent. If you are having problems paying the rest of your rent, you may be able to get a Discretionary Housing Payment. This is extra help from your local council or, in Northern Ireland, from the Housing Executive.

You should be told:

  • how much you can get
  • how long you can get it for
  • what to do if you need to ask for help again.
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About our information

This information has been written, revised and edited by Macmillan Cancer Support’s Cancer Information Development team. It has been reviewed by expert medical and health professionals and people living with cancer.

Cancer Information Development team

Author

Macmillan Welfare Rights Team

Reviewer

Date reviewed

Reviewed: 01 June 2025
|
Next review: 01 June 2028
Trusted Information Creator - Patient Information Forum
Trusted Information Creator - Patient Information Forum

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