Change of Address - Housing Benefit

If a customer or their partner are tenants and are responsible for the payment of rent they may be entitled to Housing Benefit.

If a customer changes address and is in receipt of Income Support / Jobseeker's Allowance (Income based), they will need to obtain form HB1/F1 from their local Social Security or Jobs & Benefits office.

If it is the customers first claim for Housing Benefit, or the Northern Ireland Housing Executive/Rates Collection Agency has ended the benefit period on the claim for the previous address, the completed HB1/F1 should be returned to the local Social Security or Jobs & Benefits office who will forward it to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive / Rates Collection Agency.

As long as the Northern Ireland Housing Executive/Rates Collection Agency receives this form within 4 weeks of the start of the customer's tenancy they will be able to pay from the date they moved in.

If the customer is not receiving Income Support/Jobseeker's Allowance (Income based) they will need to apply direct to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive / Rates Collection Agency who have their own claim forms and will issue them on request.

If the customer was claiming Housing Benefit / Housing Benefit Extended Payment for their old accommodation they must tell the Northern Ireland Housing Executive / Rates Collection Agency that dealt with their old address and the one dealing with the new address about the move as soon as possible.

Further details can be obtained from leaflet RR1 "Help with your rent".