New claim for benefit

New claim for benefit

Most people who are liable to pay rent or council tax can claim benefits. The main restrictions relate to students and people who have only recently arrived in the United Kingdom.

You will need to complete an application form and provide original documents confirming the composition of your household, your income and capital and your rental liability.

Council tax and housing benefits claim application form (pdf)

Or apply online using the online benefits calculator and claim form

Once you have returned/submitted your application form we will contact you if we need any more information to assess your claim.

How much housing benefit could I get?

To work out your housing benefit we will look at:

• money you and your partner have coming in, including earnings, some benefits and tax credits and things like occupational pensions 
• your savings and your partner's savings 
• your circumstances, such as your age, the ages and size of your family, whether you or any of your family are disabled, and whether anyone who lives with you could help with the rent.     

We will also look at whether:

• the amount of rent is reasonable for your particular home  
• your home is a reasonable size for you and your family 
• the amount of rent is reasonable for the area your home is in. 
   

See how much could you get » Online benefits calculator

The most housing benefit you can get is the same as your eligible rent. This may not be the same as your full rent.

Housing benefit helps to meet some or all of your rental liability, whether to the council, a registered social landlord or a private landlord. If you have a mortgage, housing benefit cannot help with meeting this liability.

In addition to paying the rent for a house, flat etc, housing benefit can also pay certain property-related ‘service charges’ such as for furniture and heating / lighting of communal areas in a block of flats. However personal service charges will not be payable by housing benefit;- such as heating and water rates.

Once your benefit application is processed you will be able to check your benefit details online via 'My account'  and registering for the 'housing and council tax benefit service'

Ways to contact us