Housing Benefit - payment options
How Housing Benefit is paid
Payment options vary depending on whether you are a council or private tenant.
Council tenants
Your benefit is paid at the start of the week your rent is due. The payment is made electronically into your rent account. You can request a balance of your rent account from your housing office.
Private tenants
Benefit can be paid either to yourself or to your landlord or agent by bank cheque or by BACS transfer to a bank account
All new private tenants are paid fortnightly or every four weeks in arrears. Landlords are paid four weekly in arrears.
If your Housing Benefit is worked out using the Local Housing Allowance your benefit will be paid directly to you. In exceptional circumstances it may be paid to your landlord.
Payments made to you (bank cheque)
The first payment will be made in arrears, in the week in which your claim is processed and thereafter they are normally posted on a Tuesday* afternoon and are either made fortnightly or every four weeks.
Where the amount you are to receive is less than £500, the cheque will be cashable at a post office of your choice. The post office address will be shown on the advice note attached to the cheque. Amounts of £500 and above will be paid by bank cheque which have to be paid into a bank account.
Payments made to you (BACS transfer)
Payment is made directly into your bank account. The payment will appear in your account on the Friday* of the week in which it is due and will be made fortnightly or four weekly.
Payments to a landlord or agent (bank cheque)
All payments are made every four weeks by crossed cheque which must be paid into a bank account. The first payment will be made the day following the assessment of the claim and thereafter they are normally posted on a Tuesday* afternoon.
Payments made to your landlord or agent (BACS transfer)
Payment is made every four weeks in arrears and will appear in the account on the Friday* of the week in which it is due.
Making changes
To request a form for BACS payment or to change the post office where your benefit is currently paid, contact us and ask for the assessment team that deals with your address. Alternatively, complete page 13 of the application form with your details when making or renewing your claim.
*Note that days occasionally change due to public holidays, etc.
If you think a payment has gone missing
You should contact us straight away by phone or in person.
If you suspect a payment has been stolen you should also contact the police.