Payments of Housing Benefit and Local Housing Allowance

Payments of Housing Benefit and Local Housing Allowance will normally be made direct to your bank account every two weeks for the previous two weeks. 

Apply online to have benefits paid directly into your bank account

We may be able to pay your benefit direct to your landlord. However special rules apply if you are getting Local Housing Allowance (see below). If your benefit is paid direct to your landlord, we will send them a payment every four weeks for the previous four weeks.        

• Request to have Housing Benefit paid direct to your landlord - This form needs to be printed or typed in full and returned to us. Please note, you will need to save this form to your PC before completing it online.

Payments of Local Housing Allowance

Local Housing Allowance will normally be paid to you and it is your responsibility to pay your landlord. Only in limited circumstances will payment be made to your landlord. These include:

• If you are in arrears with your rent by 8 weeks or more.

• If it is considered that you are ‘unlikely to pay’ your rent.

• If you have difficulty managing your money.

Payments of Local Housing Allowance can also be made direct to your landlord if we consider it will help you to secure a new tenancy or to remain in your home. In order to show the tenancy has been secured or retained, the rent level must be reduced to an affordable level, usually the level of your Local Housing Allowance Rate.

We have developed a Safeguarding Policy which outlines the circumstances when we can consider paying your Local Housing Allowance to your landlord.

• Request direct payments of Local Housing Allowance to your Landlord - This form needs to be printed or typed in full and returned to us. Please note, you will need to save this form to your PC before completing it electronically.

• Find out how you can get advice and guidance about Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support.