Can I claim HB – I am living with my friend’s mum?

To get HB you have to be liable for rent – this means the agreement to pay rent has to be legally enforceable.

If you have to pay rent to stay in your friend’s mum’s house, you should get something in writing from her to prove it. Make sure that payment of HB won't affect any benefits your friend’s mum gets, or break the terms of her tenancy.

Can I claim HB – I am living with my dad and he is charging me rent?

No, you can’t claim HB if you pay rent to someone you live with who's a close relative, such as a parent, parent-in-law, brother, sister or step-parents.

How do I claim Housing Benefit?
If you claim IS or income based JSA you'll get a HB claim form with your other benefit claim forms. You should complete and return these – Jobcentre Plus will forward them to the council. It's usually best to claim HB directly from the council as well.

Remember to include all the information you're asked for, e.g. your tenancy agreement. Ask for a receipt when you hand in your claim form.

What if there is a delay, or if I have a complaint?
There are often delays in processing claims. If the council has all the information it needs, and you're a private tenant, you should be paid some HB after 14 days, even if they've not yet properly processed your claim.

If delays in paying your HB cause you hardship, you can complain. If your complaint isn't dealt with satisfactorily you can contact the Local Government Ombudsman who can ask the council to put things right. This can include paying compensation.

Call the Ombudsman advice line or www.lgo.org.uk.