Housing Benefit

Apologies if this isn't the right place to ask, but all the information on the rest of the DWP is so comprehensive I thought it best to try.

As a result of complex mental health problems, and a serious personal issue, I had to take out a DRO a few years ago. I am now a mature student.

I need to move out of my family home, and am looking at rental properties and to pay for this via housing benefit. Obviously my credit file, and to a lesser extent my student status are an issue from the agent/landlord perspective.

A suggestion is that more of the rent could be paid up front, however I don't know what that means in terms of housing benefit applications. Would I have the same eligibility for this if I were to pay say for the 12months initial contract up front (and then the HB comes over that period in the way it would have done otherwise)?