Housing costs and benefits - In England

The rules about getting help with housing costs for owner-occupiers on benefits are changing.

If you get one of the following benefits and are an owner-occupier, you can get help with housing costs such as mortgage interest payments:

• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance.

However, currently you usually have to wait 39 weeks before getting help with your costs. There is also a limit on the size of loan on which interest payments can be met. This is £100,000.

From 5 January, new claimants will only have to wait 13 weeks before their costs are paid. And the limit on the size of the loan is going up from £100,000 to £200,000.

At the moment, it is not clear whether the new rules will apply to anyone who claimed benefits before 5 January.

For more information about Income Support, see Help for people on a low income – income support.
For more information about income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, see Benefits for people looking for work.
For more information about Employment and Support Allowance, see Benefits for people who are sick or disabled.

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