Housing Benefit: Age 25 to 34 in self contained accommodation

Part of: How we work out your Housing Benefit

Most people of working age have to apply for Universal Credit if they need help with their rent. For more details, and to make a claim visit Universal Credit on GOV.UK.

If you qualify for Housing Benefit

For most single people under the age of 35 Housing Benefit is restricted to Shared Accommodation Rate. This applies if your Housing Benefit is worked out using a Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rate or a Rent Officer Decision.

Housing Benefit is restricted to a Shared Accommodation Rate if you:

  • live alone in self-contained accommodation
  • rent from a private landlord
  • do not qualify for an exemption from a shared rate

You can use the bedroom calculator on the Direct Gov website to see if the Shared Accommodation Rate applies to you.

If your Housing Benefit is worked out using a Rent Officer Decision we cannot tell you the exact amount that will apply to you until we receive that decision.

For Housing Benefit that is worked out using Local Housing Allowance please refer to our Local Housing Allowance (LHA) guide.

Shared Accommodation Rate exemptions

If you are under the age of 35 and live alone in self-contained accommodation you may be exempt from the shared restriction, if you:

  • are a care-leaver under the age of 25
  • are at least 16 and have spent 3 months or more in a hostels for homeless people and were provided support and meals or cooking facilities when living there
  • are between 25-34 and are an ex-offender who is subject to multi-agency management
  • have a spare bedroom and regularly receive overnight care from a carer who does not live with you
  • have a spare bedroom and have a foster child or young person living with you
  • are suffering or threatened with domestic violence
  • are identified as a victim or modern slavery

The following only apply if no-one gets Carer's Allowance or the Carer Element of Universal Credit for looking after you, and you get:

  • middle or higher rate Disability Living Allowance
  • the standard enhanced Daily Living Component of Personal Independence Payment
  • an Armed Forces Independence Payment

You must provide evidence if any of the above apply so that we can work out if you qualify for an exemption.