Benefits

Can I get help to pay my rent? 

Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to get help towards your rent / housing costs through either Housing Benefit or Universal Credit. 

The amount you’re entitled to depends on:

• where you live;
• what savings you have;
• how many people live with you; and
• your income.

Housing Benefit  

You might be able to get housing benefit to help pay your rent if you’re on a low income or you claim benefits, however, most people can’t make a new claim for Housing Benefit. 

You can only make a claim for Housing Benefit from North Lanarkshire Council if either of the following apply: 

• you have reached State Pension age
• you’re in supported, sheltered (where service charge applied) or temporary housing.

Should you require assistance with this process, please contact the Co-operative and an appointment can be made with our Income/Money Advisor via our AFTAR Project with Citizens Advice Bureau.  Alternatively, you can complete a form online https://northlanarkshire.teamnetsol.com.

If you are currently receiving housing benefit and have a change of circumstances you may have to make a claim for Universal Credit, this can pay part or all of your rent.  How much you get depends on your income and circumstances and can be paid direct to the Co-operative.  

Extra Help to Pay Your Rent

You may also get extra help from your council called a ‘discretionary housing payment’ if your housing benefit doesn’t cover your rent. 

Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) provide financial support to help with rent or housing costs and are provided by North Lanarkshire Council. They may also be awarded if you have a shortfall in your housing costs due to requiring additional bedroom(s). 

Should you require assistance with this please contact your Housing Officer.

Universal Credit    

The Universal Credit payments you receive should include any housing costs you are entitled to assist with your rent.  It is important to include details of your rent charge when you claim Universal Credit so that your housing costs are included in the claim. 

You can arrange for this to be paid direct to the Co-operative by means of a Managed Payment.  Should you need any help with this please contact your Housing Officer. 

Universal Credit is a single benefit for working-age people. It replaces means-tested benefits, such as: 

• Income support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Tax credits
• Housing Benefit

Universal Credit is paid monthly in arrears to only one member of the household unless certain exceptions apply. You are expected to manage a budget and pay your rent / housing costs direct to your landlord. It is expected that a claim will be in payment after 6 weeks of making the claim. 

Universal Credit Managed Migration 

Managed Migration is the process the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) is using to transfer claimants from the old (legacy) benefit system, such as Tax Credit, Jobseeker’s Allowance and income Support to Universal Credit.  

It started in Autumn 2023, with people receiving only Tax Credit.  From April 2024, this was extended to other benefits.

The table below details the planned timetable for claimants to be asked to claim Universal Credit.

If you claim any of the benefits in the table above, you will receive a “migration notice” when it is your time to change.

You do not need to do anything until you have received a Universal Credit ‘Migration Letter’.

You will then have three months to make a claim for Universal Credit.  If you do not claim Universal Credit before the deadline, any existing benefit payments you receive will stop.

When will I be notified I will be moving onto Universal Credit?

Once you have received the letter, you will have 3 months to make your claim for Universal Credit.

The notice tells you:

• The need to claim UC instead.
• The ‘deadline day’.
• What happens if you don’t claim in time.
• Other information about how to claim UC, joint claims, couples, etc.

How do I pay my rent once I am on Universal Credit?

Under Universal Credit, you will receive benefits in one lump sum, paid monthly. In the past your local council may have paid your housing benefit straight to us. Under Universal Credit, this is paid to you. 

However, you may ask for your housing costs to be paid direct to the Co-operative.

Keep in Touch

If you receive your Migration Notice, it is important that you contact your Housing Officer and they can make an appointment with our AFTAR Advisor or for more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit