Can I get Universal Credit (UC) housing costs element?
Tenant
If you are a tenant you have to be the person who is responsible for paying the rent to get help with your housing costs.
You will not usually qualify for help with housing costs if you:
- live in the home of a close relative
- are a full-time student (unless you have a disability or have children)
Homeowner
If you are a homeowner you must not have any earned income. If you are making a claim as a couple, if either of you have any earned income, of any amount, you will not qualify for a housing costs element. Owner-occupiers, who are leaseholders, can still receive help with some service charges through Universal Credit Housing Costs Help. Owner-occupiers with a mortgage have the option of applying for a Support for Mortgage Interest Loan for help with the mortgage interest.
Updated December 2018