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Guidance

A6/2026: Closure of Working Age Housing Benefit

Updated 25 June 2026

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/housing-benefit-adjudication-circulars-2026/a62026-closure-of-working-age-housing-benefit

Who should read

All Housing Benefit colleagues and wider if appropriate.

Action

For information.

Subject    

Closure of Working Age Housing Benefit.

Guidance manual

The information in this circular does not affect the content of the Housing Benefit Guidance Manual.

Queries

For queries about the

Extra copies of this circular and copies of previous circulars can be found at Housing Benefit for local authorities: adjudication circulars.

Introduction

1. This circular provides guidance on The Welfare Reform Act 2012 (Commencement No. 35) (Abolition of Benefits) (Amendment) Order 2026 which abolishes Working Age Housing Benefit (HB).

2. The Order was made on 15 April 2026 and comes into force on 1 July 2026.

Background

3. Working Age HB caseloads have continued to decrease as the Move to Universal Credit (UC) project nears completion.

4. The Welfare Reform Act 2012 (Commencement No. 35) (Abolition of Benefits) (Amendment) Order 2026 amends The Welfare Reform Act 2012 (Commencement No. 35) (Abolition of Benefits) Order 2025 to include a new article 7 for the closure of the Working Age HB scheme for those who do not live in temporary accommodation or specified accommodation and also amends article 6 of the 2025 Order.

Closure of Working Age HB

5. Article 6 of the Welfare Reform Act 2012 (Commencement No. 35) (Abolition of Benefits) Order 2025 abolished Working Age HB from 14 November 2025 for cases where Working Age claimants receiving HB only moved from temporary accommodation or specified accommodation into general needs accommodation. See circular HB A13/2025 for more details.

6. Article 6 now applies for the period from 14 November 2025 up to, but not including, 1 July 2026. On 1 July 2026 these cases will be subject to the provisions set out below when leaving temporary accommodation or specified accommodation.

7. New article 7 of the 2025 Order abolishes Working Age HB for persons not living in temporary accommodation or specified accommodation from 1 July 2026.

Exceptions to the HB closure rule

8. Article 7 includes exceptions to the rule terminating Working Age HB as follows:

  • HB is already terminated
  • Transition to UC housing payment
    • HB is due to terminate at the end of the two-week transition to UC housing payment. The abolition date will be the day after the transition to UC housing payment period ends.
  • Income related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA(IR)) and appointees
    • HB is currently in payment to a claimant also in receipt of ESA(IR), who had an appointee appointed immediately before 1 July 2026 or needs to have one appointed.
  • Prisoners
    • HB is currently in payment to someone in prison, on remand or serving a sentence in hospital immediately before 1 July 2026. The abolition date will be the day after the day they are released from prison or hospital.

New claims for Working Age HB

9. The Welfare Reform Act 2012 (Commencement No. 35) (Abolition of Benefits) (Amendment) Order 2026 does not prevent a new claim for HB if the claimant moves back into temporary accommodation or specified accommodation.

Pension age HB and protected mixed age couples

10. HB which is currently awarded for someone over the qualifying age for Pension Credit, including those who are part of a protected mixed age couple, isn’t abolished by the Order.

Impact on local authorities

11. Local authorities should ensure that only Working Age HB cases which remain in payment from and including 1 July 2026 are for those who live in temporary accommodation or specified accommodation, or those who meet one of the exceptions set out in paragraph 8.

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