Will housing benefit cover all of my rent?

You can only get help with your rent for things that are eligible. Amounts included in your rent for things like water rates, lighting, meals and heating are not eligible for housing benefit.
You may have a 'non-dependant' living with you (this is someone aged 18 or over who is not legally dependent upon you), and an amount is deducted from your Housing Benefit based upon the circumstances of the non-dependant. The housing benefit scheme expects that the non-dependant will contribute towards the cost of the rent.
If you are renting from a private sector landlord then the amount of housing benefit that you receive will be based upon a maximum rent figure for your property/tenancy which is provided by the local Rent Service. This maximum rent figure will be less than your actual rent paid in situations where your accommodation is larger than you need, or the rent for your property is higher than the local average for similar properties.
In most instances, new claims made now, the information regarding the Rent Service will not apply to tenants renting from the private sector whose housing benefit is paid under the Local Housing Allowance Scheme.