How Housing Benefit is paid

We make your first Housing Benefit payment within two weeks of getting all the information we need to work out your claim.

Housing Benefit for council tenants

If you're a council tenant, we pay your benefit weekly into your rent account.

Housing Benefit for housing association tenants

If you're a housing association tenant, you can choose whether we pay your benefit to you or your landlord by BACS Direct Credit.

If you're more than eight weeks in arrears, we have to pay the housing association directly.

Housing Benefit for private tenants

If you're a private tenant, we usually pay your benefit directly to you by BACS Direct Credit.

If you're more than eight weeks in arrears, we have to pay the landlord directly.

Also see

• Who can claim Housing Benefit
• Claim Housing Benefit online
• Tell us about a change in circumstances
• Appeal against a Housing Benefit decision
• Housing Benefit advice for landlords
• Benefits