How to get benefit money to help pay your rent
How to get benefit money to help pay your rent
Rent is the money that you pay to your landlord to live in your home.
Your landlord is the person who owns the place where you live.
Money from the government to help with rent
Sometimes you can get money from
the government
The Government are the people who run the country. The Government decide how much
tax
Tax is the money that pays for things like schools, hospitals and the police. There are different types of taxes like
income tax
Income tax is the money that is taken out of the money you earn every month. It helps to pay for things we all need like hospitals and schools.
,
VAT
VAT is also called Value Added Tax. VAT is the extra money you pay when you buy things. The money goes to the government to pay for things like schools and hospitals.
and
council tax
Council Tax is the money that people pay to the council. It helps to pay for things like social care (support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
.
people should pay and how things like the National Health Service (NHS) should work.
to help you pay your rent and other important living costs. This money is called a benefit.
You can ask your
social worker
A social worker is someone who can help you get the support you need. Social workers usually work for your local council.
or
support worker
Support workers
Support workers are people who are paid to give care and support to people who need it.
are people who are paid to give care and support to people who need it.
to help you get your benefit money paid straight to your landlord.
This can make things easier.
But sometimes the benefit money you get is not enough to pay for all of your rent.
Ask your support worker if you get enough benefit money to cover your rent. If not, you might have to pay the rest.
You might be able to get extra help from your local council to pay the rest, even if they are not your landlord.
Check if you already get benefit money
There are ways that you can check if you get benefits like Universal Credit or Housing Benefit to pay your rent.
You can ask your family, support worker or Housing Officer if you get benefits.
Check if you have an online Universal Credit journal that you can look at.
The Universal Credit journal is on a
website
A website is a page you can go to on the internet like Google or YouTube.
where you can check everything about your benefits and how much you get.
Ask your family or support worker if you have a Universal Credit journal.
They might have your account details.
You can sign into your Universal Credit journal at: https://www.gov.uk/sign-in-universal-credit
How to get benefits
The Department for Work and Pensions are the people you need to contact to get benefits.
The Department for Work and Pensions
The Department for Work and Pensions is sometimes called the DWP. It is part of the government and manages payments and benefits like Universal Credit,
Personal Independence Payment
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is the name of a benefit that some people with a disability or health condition get. The money is to pay for extra help you might need to look after yourself and to get around. Some people who used to get
Disability Living Allowance
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is the name of a benefit that some people with a disability get. The money is to pay for extra help you might need to look after yourself and to get around. Disability Living Allowance is being replaced by a benefit called Personal
Independence
Independence means doing things on your own. Making your own choices.
Payment (PIP).
(DLA) now get PIP instead.
,
Employment
Employment means having a job.
and Support Allowance, and Income Support.
is sometimes called the DWP.
The DWP have set up a Universal Credit helpline which you can contact by:
- Telephone: 0800 328 5644
- Textphone: 0800 328 1344
- Relay UK: 18001 then 0800 328 5644
Relay UK helps people who cannot hear or speak on the phone.
The Universal Credit helpline is open Monday - Friday, 8am - 6pm.
Find out more in our How to apply for Universal Credit Easy Read.
If you live in supported housing you might need to get Housing Benefit instead.
Contact the
Learning Disability
A learning disability is to do with the way someone's brain works. It makes it harder for someone to learn, understand or do things.
Helpline for more information.
- Telephone: 0808 808 1111
You need to fill in forms to get benefits.
You also have to show things like:
- your passport or a driving licence that show a picture of you
- a letter from your bank like a bank statement
- your tenancy agreement.
You can ask your family, social worker or support worker to help.
If you do not have anyone to help, you can call the Universal Credit Helpline and ask them to help you fill in the forms over the phone.
How much benefit money could you get?
You can check how much benefit money you could get on these websites:
Ask your support worker or social worker for help to use websites if you need support.
You will need to know how much money you get each month from other things like work.
You also need to know if you already get some benefits.
Even if you already get benefits, it is always good to check that you are getting as much money as you can.
This
Easy Read
Easy Read is a way of making written information easier to understand. Pictures are usually added next to the writing.
was originally co-created with Shelter in December 2023.
Last updated by Mencap: 07/12/2023