Bank accounts

If you don’t already have a bank account we have produced a guide that you may find helpful in finding the right account for you. This leaflet is available from our offices.

If you are concerned about opening an account or worried that any benefit paid into your account will be swallowed up by an overdraft and you will have no money to pay your rent, you can ask your bank to only use your local housing allowance payment for your rent. This is called the 'first right of appropriation'. You must do this before the first local housing allowance payment goes into your bank account.

For independent advice you may find the websites in the links table useful.