Once you apply, we’ll assess your situation and decide whether a Housing Payment can be given in line with our policy. We’ll contact you with the outcome of your application.
If your application is successful, we’ll tell you how much you’ll receive, how often it will be paid, how long it will last, and who the payment will be made to.
A Housing Payment may not cover your full rent. Receiving a payment does not guarantee you will receive one again, even if your circumstances stay the same.
If your circumstances change, you must tell us, as this may affect your payment.
Unsuccessful application and appeals
If your application is unsuccessful, we’ll contact you to explain how we reached our decision.
You can ask for the decision to be reviewed. The review would be carried out by someone who wasn’t involved with the original decision.
To request a review, write to us within one calendar month of the date on your decision letter. Write to: Housing Benefit Team, Civic Offices, Guildhall Square, Portsmouth, PO1 2BE.
Make sure you provide any additional information that may help your application. We’ll review our decision and write to you with the outcome.
Overpayments
If you receive a Housing Payment that you were not entitled to, we may need to recover the overpayment. If this happens, we’ll write to you with the details.