How Housing Benefit is paid
If you are a local authority tenant
We pay your housing benefit directly into your rent account.
If you are a tenant of a registered social landlord
We can pay your housing benefit:
- into your bank, building society or credit union account
- directly to your landlord
If you are a private tenant
We can pay your housing benefit into your bank, building society or credit union account.
If you do not already have one of these accounts, you will need to open one. You can open a with any bank.
When we must pay your landlord directly
We must pay housing benefit directly to your landlord if:
- you are in rent arrears of 8 full weeks or more
- deductions for rent arrears are being made from your Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or income-related Employment and Support Allowance