Help with Housing Costs 2026-2027: Advising on housing benefit, universal credit and pension credit

The complete guide to housing benefit, universal credit, and council tax support for social tenants, private tenants, and homeowners.

The 2026/27 edition of the Help with Housing Costs Handbook applies to claimants in England, Scotland and Wales, and is designed for easy use by renters and homeowners, local authority staff, tribunal members, and welfare and housing advisers.

This edition reflects the latest rules on help towards rent, service charges, mortgage interest and council tax, and significant policy changes taking effect from April 2026, including:

• how the rules work after the abolition of the two-child limit
• the new rules on who gets the work capability (health) elements
• financial help if you transferred from old benefits to universal credit
• up-to-date rules on supported and temporary housing

It covers universal credit, housing benefit, state pension credit, support for mortgage interest, and council tax rebates across all the main claimant groups, from private renters to shared owners.

Three full chapters are dedicated to benefit calculations, with practical worked examples and around 100 tables for quick reference.

Beyond the basics, you'll find detailed guidance on areas where the rules are more complex, including:

• who can get benefit towards rent and service charges, how much, and how this differs for renters, owners, and shared owners
• how the bedroom tax and local housing allowance affect entitlement
• council tax exemptions, discounts, disability reductions, and rebates
• housing costs paid directly to landlords and mortgage lenders
• discretionary housing payments
• income and capital limits
• benefit during an absence from home or on two homes
• rules for migrants and recent arrivals
• reconsiderations and appeals, including recent case law