You can make a claim for housing benefit if:

• You pay rent to Golden Gates Housing Trust (GGHT)
• you pay rent to a housing association
• you pay rent to a private landlord
• you pay rent for a mobile home/caravan/houseboat and or mooring/site fees
• you pay part rent and part mortgage – shared ownership. We can help with the rent part.
• you live in a hostel.

You cannot claim housing benefit if:

• you are not responsible for paying the rent (However, there are certain circumstances where we can pay benefit when your name isn’t on the tenancy agreement – please call 01925 443210 if you think you should be able to claim)
• you, or you and your partner have £16,000 in savings and capital (unless you get the guarantee credit part of pension credit).
• you live in a nursing home
• you pay rent to a close relative, who lives with you
• you pay rent to an ex-partner and you both used to live there together
• you are the parent of your landlord’s child
• you live in your home as part of your job
• you are an asylum seeker, unless you have been given refugee status or indefinite or exceptional leave to remain in the UK
• you have no recourse to public funds – housing benefit is a public fund
• you are in the UK illegally or your permission to stay has run out
• you are a full time student (however, some students can claim – see related pages)
• you used to own the home you now rent (exception apply – see related pages).

The rules about who can and can’t claim housing and/or council tax benefit are very complicated, see the rent liability page for more information or please call us for further information

   443210 (local rate)