About Council Tax & Housing Benefits
General Information
What is Housing Benefit?
Housing Benefit is a scheme to help people on low income with their rent or housing costs.
You can get help for many different types of accommodation, for example, furnished or unfurnished flats, houses or bedsits, as long as you pay rent to a landlord or landlady.
Housing Benefit does not help with the cost of buying your home, for example, mortgage payments, or with day-to-day living expenses such as gas and electricity bills.
What is Council Tax Benefit?
Council Tax Benefit is a scheme to provide help for people on low incomes with their Council Tax bills.
Who can claim?
With a few exceptions, anyone who pays rent for their home and anyone liable to pay Council Tax can claim Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit depending on their financial situation.
How do I claim Housing or Council Tax Benefit?
If you want to claim you must complete a benefit application form.
This form will ask you a lot of detailed questions that we need to know before any award of benefit can be made. The Benefit staff will provide you with help if you need it.
What other information will I need to supply to claim benefit?
A lot of information is needed from you before a decision can be made about any award of benefit
We will need to know all about:
Your financial circumstances, including your earnings, pensions and any other state benefits you have coming in. Also you will need to provide details of all your savings, capital and any other accounts you have such as building society accounts or post office accounts.
People in your household (whether you have a partner or children or a lodger, we will need details of all their income and savings as well)
The kind of property you live in and the rent you pay (this only applies if you want to claim Housing Benefit)
This information must be provided on the form that you fill in. You will also need to send us proof of the details you declare. We have to see original documents. We cannot accept photocopies.
Where can I get an application form?
Forms can be obtained at the top of this page.
Where do I send the form when I have completed it?
Send the form to the Benefit Section at the address detailed at then end of this page.
How is benefit paid?
If you live in privately rented accommodation (including Housing Association properties), Housing Benefit is usually paid by crossed cheque every 4 weeks in arrears. If you prefer to have your Housing Benefit paid direct to your landlord, this can be arranged.
If you claim Council Tax Benefit only, any entitlement is credited directly to your Council Tax Account and will show on your bill.
When does benefit start?
Benefit usually starts on the Monday after we receive your completed application form.
We can only backdate your claim in exceptional circumstances so be sure to get your form in straight away. Don't delay, you could lose benefit!
See these pages for related information:
- Who is entitled to council tax benefit?
- Who is entitled to housing benefit?
- What information do you need to assess my benefit claim
- About Home Visits and Verification Framework
- What about other People who live with me?
- How will capital and savings affect my benefit claim?
- What is capital for benefits purposes?
- Can benefit be restricted?
- Can I get benefit if I am a student?
- Can I get benefit if I am working or self employed
- When will my benefit start being paid?
- How will my housing benefit be paid?
- Do I have to tell you of any changes in my circumstances?
- How do I make a claim for backdating housing benefit?
- What if I am not happy with a decision?
- Personal Allowances & Family Premiums
- What is a change in circumstances for benefits purposes?
- What is an applicable amount for benefits purposes??
- What are discretionary housing payments?
- What if I need help with my benefit claim?
- What help can I get when I start work?
- What is a non dependent for benefits purposes?
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Subscribe to changes to this page here.Author: Reception Services. Last Updated: 25/9/2007.
