Crisis and Resilience Fund - Housing Payment

Housing Payment - extra payments to help pay rent

A Housing Payment may be awarded when the Council considers that a claimant requires further financial assistance towards housing costs and is in receipt of either Housing Benefit (HB) or Universal Credit (UC) with the housing element included. Please note that while the housing costs of the UC award notification may refer to support for mortgage payments, owner-occupiers are not eligible to receive a Housing Payment.

We can’t give Housing Payments for the following:

Service charges not covered by housing benefit or Universal Credit
Any rent you owe
When your housing benefit payment or Universal Credit is suspended
Rent, if you are only entitled to council tax reduction
Council tax
If the only benefit you get is second adult rebate.

Contents

How do I apply?
Housing Payment for rent deposit or rent in advance
Housing Payment for removal costs
Housing Payment for significantly adapted accommodation
Decisions about Housing Payment

How do I apply for a Housing Payment?

You can only apply for a Housing Payment if you are currently entitled to some housing benefit from us or if you are getting Universal Credit that includes something towards your housing costs. You can complete a Housing Payment claim online or contact us and we will send you one in the post.

Housing Payment form for rent deposit or rent in advance

If you need help to cover a deposit and / or rent in advance when you move to a new property, you can complete a rent deposit or in advance claim online.

In the main, these awards will be restricted to assisting moves into private rented accommodation. Where applications are received to assist with moves to Registered Social Landlord properties, the award will be limited to one-week rent in advance and only when the claimant is not able to afford to pay for this out of their own finances.

Housing Payment form for removal costs

If you need help to cover your removal costs when you move to a new property, you can complete a removal costs claim online.

Housing Payment form for significantly adapted accommodation

If you need a claim Housing Payment to cover a restriction in your rent due to under occupation and you live in significantly adapted accommodation. You can complete a Housing Payment claim online.

How do you decide if I can have a Housing Payment?

We look at the following to reach our decision:

Your income
Your savings
If anyone else in your house can help you
If you have any loans or debts
If you could manage your money better
If you, or anyone in your family, is ill or disabled
If you have tried to put the situation right yourself.

We will ask you for a lot of information in support of your application and will notify you of our decision in writing.

If we give you a Housing Payment, we will tell you the amount and how long we will pay it for.