Claiming for Housing Benefit when you are single and under 25
Updated: 22 May 2012
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If you are a single person under 25 and rent privately then it is likely that the Housing Benefit you receive will be restricted to a "single room rent".
What is a single room rent?
A single room rent is the most Housing Benefit that can be paid to a single person under 25 renting privately. It is based on the general level of rent in the private sector for a single room with shared use of toilet, bathroom, kitchen and living room.
Are there any exceptions?
Yes, there are a few exceptions. A single room rent will not be applied if:
- your landlord is the Housing Executive
- your landlord is a registered housing association
- your home is subject to the 1978 Rent Order
- you moved into your current address before October 1996 and have been receiving Housing Benefit ever since
- you have a severe disability
- someone else lives with you who is unable to claim Housing Benefit in their own right
- you are under 22 and were the subject of a care order before the age of 16
I can only find a self contained flat, what will happen?
It does not matter what size of accommodation you live in or what is available in your area. The law prevents us from paying more than the single room rent unless you qualify as one of the exceptions.
I won’t have enough money to pay my rent, what can I do?
You can ask the landlord if they will charge less or you can look for cheaper accommodation. If you are having difficulty paying your rent, you can also apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment but please note that this cannot be guaranteed.
How can I find out how much rent I will be allowed?
You can ask for a pre-tenancy determination before you take on a new tenancy. This gives you an indication as to how much rent will be allowed. You can request a pre-tenancy determination from your local Housing Executive office.
You will be notified in writing of the likely rent, which will be covered by Housing Benefit. You can then decide if you can afford the accommodation taking into account that you will have to pay the amount not covered by Housing Benefit yourself.
