Welfare benefits

Keep up-to-date with information about benefit changes online so you understand whether you can apply to receive financial support.

Welfare benefits

If you need the latest information about welfare benefits to help you to pay your rent, you can start by checking the Department for Work and Pensions website to browse benefits or read more from Turn2us. 

For further reading online, you can use our handy links below or keep reading for more information:

Handy links to get prepared:

Universal Credit

Universal Credit is a monthly payment that replaces the following benefits:

  • Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA).
  • Housing Benefit.
  • Working Tax Credit.
  • Child Tax Credit.
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
  • Income Support.

You may be able to claim Universal Credit if you’re on a low income or out of work. How much you’ll get depends on your circumstances, including your income and how many children you have.

It’ll be paid once a month, usually into your bank, building society or credit union account. If you live with your partner and you both claim Universal Credit, you’ll receive a single payment that covers you both.

Full information on Universal Credit can be found on the Direct Gov website for Universal Credit.

There's a limit on the total am

Benefit Cap

ount of benefits you can claim if you're or your partner are working age.

Further details on how this overall benefit cap works can be found here: Benefit Cap.

‘Bedroom Tax’ restrictions

If you claim Universal Credit and are liable rent, your award should include a ‘Housing Costs Element’. Or you may be entitled to Housing Benefit for help with your rent.

If you’re or your partner are working age, the amount of help you get with your rent may be affected if you have ‘extra’ bedrooms in your home. See below for more information:

Bedrooms

If you have one or more ‘spare’ bedrooms in your home, your benefit could be reduced.

If you have one ‘spare’ bedroom, your award will be reduced by 14 percent of your total rent. If you have two or more your award will be reduced by 25 percent of your total rent

Sharing bedrooms

You're expected to share a bedroom, if you're:

  • An adult couple.
  • Two children of the same sex under the age of 16.
  • Two children under the age of 10 (regardless of sex).

You can have your own bedroom, if you're:

  • A single adult (16 or over).
  • A child that would normally share, but shared bedrooms are already taken. For example, you have three children and two already share.
  • Children who can’t share because of a disability or medical condition.
  • A non-resident overnight carer for you or your partner (but only if they must stay overnight).

Rooms used by students and members of the armed or reserve forces will not be counted as ‘spare’ if they’re away and intend to return home.

If you're worried that you may struggle to pay your rent, or you have benefit or debt problems, we may be able to help through our Financial Wellbeing service. Please visit our financial wellbeing page for more information.