Applying for benefits to help pay rent
You could qualify for certain benefits to increase your income and help pay your rent.
Use the turn2us benefits calculator to check what you can get.
Check your Local Housing Allowance rate
The amount of benefits you can get for your rent depends on:
- how many bedrooms you need
- what area of Scotland you live in
This is called Local Housing Allowance.
Check what you can claim for on the Valuation Office Agency website.
Universal Credit
If you're on a low income, Universal Credit can pay all or part of your rent. How much you’ll get depends on your income and the Local Housing Allowance rate.
Apply for Universal Credit on GOV.UK.
Housing Benefit
You can make a new claim for Housing Benefit if you're either:
- state pension age
- living in sheltered, supported, or temporary housing
Check how to apply for Housing Benefit.
Discretionary Housing Payment
You could get a Discretionary Housing Payment if your other benefits do not cover all your rent.
Check how to apply for Discretionary Housing Payment.
Applying for a Council Tax reduction
If you meet certain criteria, you could get a Council Tax reduction or exemption. This can increase your income and help you pay your rent.