Housing Payments

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Housing Payments

From 1 April 2026, Housing Payments replaced Discretionary Housing Payments under the government's new Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF).

Who can apply for a Housing Payment?

You can apply if you:

receive Housing Benefit, or the housing element of Universal Credit
need extra financial help with your housing costs

What you can get help with

You may be able to get a Housing Payment if you need help with:

a rent shortfall caused by welfare reforms, earnings deductions, etc
unavoidable or exceptional housing-related expenses
short-term support to help prevent homelessness
a rent deposit or rent in advance
temporary support for rent arrears

This list is a guide only. We assess each application based on your individual circumstances.

Apply for a Housing Payment

Temporary support and rent arrears

To apply, follow these three steps:

Complete and submit the online application form.
Use the link at the end of the form to download the Income and Expenditure form. Complete it and email it to benefits@peterborough.gov.uk. Include your claim number in the email subject line.
Email your supporting evidence to benefits@peterborough.gov.uk. The application form will tell you what evidence you need to provide. Include your claim number in the email subject line.

We cannot assess your application until you have completed all three steps.

Apply for a Housing Payment

Rent deposit and rent in advance

You can apply for help with a rent deposit or rent in advance through the Housing Payment fund. As funding is limited, we prioritise applications where there is a genuine need to move or a risk of homelessness.

You must meet some or all of the following criteria:

you receive Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit at your current address
you have not yet moved into the new property
you need a payment from the Housing Payment fund to secure the tenancy
you will not receive a rent deposit or rent in advance refund from your current tenancy
you can afford the rent and ongoing household costs at the new property
you have not previously received help from Peterborough City Council with a rent deposit or rent in advance

If we award a payment, we will pay it directly to the new landlord.

To apply contact our housing needs team - you will need evidence of the rent charge for the new property. Your prospective landlord must provide this evidence.