DSSmove blog
Notes on the UC and Housing Benefit rental market, from the team behind DSSmove.
- How to claim back up to 2 years of rent if your landlord has broken the law — If your landlord committed a housing offence while you were renting from them, the First-tier Tribunal can order them to repay up to two years of rent.
- How to earn money each month without losing any of your Universal Credit — If you have children or a health condition that limits your work, you can earn up to £427 a month without losing a penny of your Universal Credit — this is your work allowance.
- How to get free energy improvements to your rented home if you are on benefits — If you rent privately and get Universal Credit or Housing Benefit, the Warm Homes Local Grant can pay for insulation or heating upgrades with nothing to pay yourself.
- How to check whether too much is being taken from your Universal Credit payment — Since April 2025, the most that can normally be deducted from your Universal Credit to repay debts is 15% of your standard allowance — not 25%.
- How to get food and milk money on a prepaid card if you are pregnant or have a child under 4 — On Universal Credit with a pregnancy or a child under 4? The Healthy Start card puts up to £37.20 every 4 weeks on a prepaid card for food and milk.
- How to get help with rent after Housing Benefit closed to new working-age claims — From 1 July 2026, most working-age people can no longer start a new Housing Benefit claim — if you need help with rent, you now apply for Universal Credit instead.
- How Awaab's Law gives you faster repairs in social housing — From 30 November 2026, Awaab's Law in England covers 7 more hazards including electrical faults, excess cold, fire risks and pest infestations — your social landlord must act much faster.
- How to claim Carer's Allowance and keep earning from a part-time job — If you care for someone for at least 35 hours a week, you could get £86.45 a week in Carer's Allowance — and still earn up to £204 a week net from a part-time job.
- How to get an advance on your Universal Credit to cover rent during the 5-week wait — When you first claim Universal Credit you wait about 5 weeks for your first payment — but you can ask DWP for an interest-free advance the same day you claim.
- How to try work or volunteering without risking your Universal Credit or PIP — From 30 April 2026, trying work or volunteering will not on its own trigger a reassessment of your Universal Credit health element or your PIP award.
- How to get free NHS prescriptions, dental care, and eye tests on Universal Credit — If you claim Universal Credit, you may be entitled to free NHS prescriptions, dental care, and eye tests — even if you have some earnings from work.
- How to protect your income when DWP writes to say you must move to Universal Credit — If you get a migration notice from DWP, you can move to Universal Credit without losing money — you just need to act before your deadline date.
- How to check whether you should pay the bedroom tax in social housing — If you live in a council or housing association home with a spare bedroom, your housing payment can be cut — but you might qualify for an exemption that saves you money.
- How to ask your landlord if you can keep a pet in your rented home — From 1 May 2026, assured tenants in England can request a pet and landlords must respond within 28 days. Here is how to ask — and what to do if they say no.
- How to earn more without losing your Housing Benefit if you live in supported housing — From 5 October 2026, new rules mean Housing Benefit in supported housing will work like Universal Credit — so you can earn more before your benefit goes down.
- How to get up to 85% of your childcare costs paid back on Universal Credit — If you work and claim Universal Credit, you can get up to 85% of your registered childcare costs paid back — up to £1,071 a month for one child.
- How to get £209 a month added to your Universal Credit if you care for someone — If you look after a disabled or ill person for at least 35 hours a week, you can add the carer element — £209.34 a month — to your Universal Credit.
- How to check if you qualify for the one-bedroom housing rate if you are under 35 — Single UC claimants under 35 usually only get housing help at the shared accommodation rate — but several groups are legally exempt and can claim the higher one-bedroom rate.
- How to claim PIP if a health condition or disability makes everyday life harder — PIP pays up to £194.60 a week on top of Universal Credit — it is not means-tested, so your income, savings, and employment status do not affect your eligibility.
- How to report a housing hazard in your rented home — If your rented home has serious problems like damp, faulty heating, or unsafe electrics, you can ask your council to inspect it for free — here is how.
- How to get free school meals for your children if you claim Universal Credit — From September 2026, all families claiming Universal Credit in England will qualify for free school meals — here is how to apply before the new term starts.
- How to check if the benefit cap is reducing your Universal Credit — Find out what the benefit cap limits are in 2026, whether you are exempt, and what to do if the cap is reducing the housing element of your Universal Credit.
- How the rent in advance cap protects you when moving to a new home — Since 1 May 2026, landlords in England can only ask for 1 month's rent in advance — no more demands for 3 or 6 months upfront.
- How the Warm Home Discount can cut your energy bill if you are on benefits — The Warm Home Discount gives eligible households £150 off their electricity bill each winter — if you claim Universal Credit or Housing Benefit, you may qualify automatically.
- How to get a government savings bonus if you work and claim Universal Credit — If you work and claim Universal Credit, Help to Save lets you earn a tax-free government bonus on your savings — up to £1,200 over four years.
- How to apply for a Crisis and Resilience Fund Housing Payment — From April 2026, Discretionary Housing Payments were replaced by the Crisis and Resilience Fund — if Housing Benefit or Universal Credit does not cover your rent, your council can still top it up.
- What to do if your landlord gave you a Section 21 notice before 1 May 2026 — If your landlord served a Section 21 notice before 1 May 2026, they must start court action by 31 July 2026 — or the notice expires and you gain stronger rights.
- How to get an interest-free loan on Universal Credit to help with moving costs — You can borrow up to £812 interest-free through Universal Credit to cover moving costs, rent in advance, and essential items — repaid over 2 years.
- How to challenge a rent increase under the Renters' Rights Act — Since 1 May 2026, your landlord can only raise your rent once a year and must give 2 months' notice using Form 4A. Here is how to push back if the rise seems too high.
- How to cut your council tax bill if you are on Universal Credit — Universal Credit does not cover your council tax — you must apply separately to your council for a reduction that could bring your bill down to zero.
- How to claim the extra Universal Credit payment if you have a health condition — If you have a health condition that limits your ability to work, Universal Credit may pay you an extra £217 to £430 a month on top of your standard amount — here is how to claim.
- How to check your tenancy deposit is protected — Your landlord must put your deposit into a government-approved scheme within 30 days — here is how to check and what you can claim if they did not.
- Your Universal Credit can now include a payment for every child — From 6 April 2026, the two-child limit on Universal Credit was removed — if you have three or more children, your payments should now be higher.
- Local Housing Allowance — how to find your rate and what it means for your rent — Local Housing Allowance sets the maximum your Universal Credit or Housing Benefit will pay toward private rent — here is how to look up your exact rate.
- Landlords can no longer refuse you for claiming benefits — Since 1 May 2026, landlords in England cannot refuse to rent to you because you claim Universal Credit or Housing Benefit — the Renters' Rights Act makes this illegal.
- How to apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment — If your Universal Credit or Housing Benefit does not stretch to cover your full rent, your council may top it up with a Discretionary Housing Payment.