Apply for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support

Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support

You can claim for Housing Benefit if you are:

• Of pension age and have a rental liability
• In homeless accommodation or supported accommodation

If you are working age you will need to make a claim to Universal Credit for help with your rent.

Make a new claim for Housing Benefit/ Council Tax Support

Council tenants

If you are entitled to Housing Benefit to help with a council rent, the benefit is credited to your rent account and reduces the amount that you have to pay.

Housing Association tenants and private tenants

If you are a tenant of a housing association or of a private landlord, the benefit is paid into your bank (BACS), normally to you, two weekly in arrears but sometimes to your landlord who will be paid four weekly in arrears.

Authority has been provided by the Chief Executive to collect this information, see this attachment.

Acceptance of Electronic Claims and Changes of Circumstances (PDF Document, 310.27 Kb)

Information required (what we need to know)

Proof of all income

This is the money coming into the household that you and any of your dependants have. It includes earnings, pensions or state benefits and any other income received. Some items of income are partially or totally ignored although you must still tell us about them.

Proof of all savings

For working-age claims

This is the total of your (and any partner's) savings and investments. If the total exceeds £16,000 you will not be able to claim Housing Benefit or Council Tax Support. If the total is less than £6,000 it will not affect your benefit but you must still tell us about it. For Housing Benefit, savings between £6,000 and £16,000 an income of £1 for every £250 of savings is added to your other income total, but the actual interest paid on savings is ignored. The Capital limit for Council Tax Support for working age customers is £6,000.

For pension age claims

This is the total of your (and any partner's) savings and investments. If the total exceeds £16,000 you will not be able to claim Housing Benefit or Council Tax Support (unless you receive Guarantee Pension Credit). If the total is less than £10,000 it will not affect your Housing Benefit or Council Tax Support but you must still tell us about it. For savings between £10,000 and £16,000 an income of £1 for every £500 of savings is added to your other income total, but the actual interest paid on savings is ignored.

You will be entitled to Housing Benefit/Council Tax Support if you are in receipt of Guarantee Pension Credit, even if your savings and investments exceed £16,000. You may also be entitled to Housing Benefit/Council Tax Support if you are in receipt of Savings Credit but your savings must be less than £16,000.

Details of household family members

The size of your household and the age and income of everyone who lives with you can affect your Housing Benefit/Council Tax Support entitlement. If you have someone living with you who is not dependent upon you, this may reduce your Housing Benefit/Council Tax Support entitlement as it is reasonable to expect such a person to contribute to household expenses.

Documents required

We can accept original documents and also photographs of evidence as long as they are clear.

All relevant documents must show your current address.