Can I claim Housing Benefit for a property before I move in?

When a claim can be made

There are few situations where we can pay Housing Benefit for a period before you move into a property. Where possible, you should move in as soon as possible after your tenancy starts. Please see 'Can I claim Housing Benefit for a property after I have moved out?' for help with rent for notice periods on former homes.
 
Some common examples of where we may be able to pay Housing Benefit before you move in are:

• You cannot move into your new home straight away because you are waiting for adaptions to be made to meet your disability needs or the disability needs of someone in your household.

• You cannot move into your new home straight away because you are waiting to leave hospital or a care home. This rule does not apply if you are liable to pay rent for another home before you move into this one.

• You cannot move into your new home straight away because you are waiting for a decision on a social fund payment to help move or set up home. This rule only applies if you are the qualifying age for Pension Credit* or over, or there is a child in your household aged under 6 or, someone in the household has a disability that entitles them to certain benefits. This rule does not apply though if you are liable to pay rent for another home before you move into the new one.

*The qualifying age for Pension Credit was 60 years until 5 April 2010, from 6 April 2010 it is gradually increasing to 65 years.

In all these cases you must still claim Housing Benefit, (or if you were already getting Housing Benefit you must notify us of the move), before your new tenancy starts or at least in the week after it starts.  When you do this, ask us about claiming Housing Benefit for the property before you move in. We will need you to write in, or make a statement at our office, asking us to pay before the date you move in and giving the reasons why you cannot move in straight away.  

We will only consider paying Housing Benefit once you move into the new property and if you satisfy the relevant conditions. We can only pay Housing Benefit for up to 4 weeks before the date you moved in.