If your housing benefit doesn't cover your rent you might be entitled to further help from the little promoted Discretionary Housing Payments scheme.

Yet despite underspending their allocation for every year the scheme has been in operation, NCC's Housing Benefits office refuses nearly 60% of applications. Meanwhile, evictions from rented properties went up by 42% last year, mostly for rent arrears.

More here

 http://ncclols.blogspot.com/2009/01/theyre-on-your-side-part-2.html