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Contact the Benefits team using the online contact form
Open an online benefits application form.
Who can claim?
You do not have to be claiming Income Support or Job Seekers Allowance to make a claim for Housing and/or Council Tax Benefit. You can claim if you or your partner, if you have one, are in full time work or work part time. You can also claim if you do not work but do not receive either Income Support or Job Seekers Allowance.
How much you qualify for depends on how much money you have coming in and your savings. It also depends on the number of people living in your home, their ages and the amount of money they receive.
Normally claims for Housing Benefit have to be made by the person responsible for paying the rent to the landlord. For Council Tax Benefit the claim should be made by the person who has to pay the Council Tax bill for the property, or their partner.
If you pay rent to a close relative, sharing the same accommodation, Housing benefit cannot help you with this.
If you have capital of £16,000 or more you cannot receive Housing Benefit or main Council Tax Benefit. Capital of over £3,000, or £6,000 if you are over 60, will reduce the amount of Housing or main Council Tax Benefit we can pay you, unless you are receiving Income Support or Job Seekers Allowance. This does not apply if you want to claim Second Adult Rebate.
Capital includes all savings, cash saved at home, bank and building society accounts including current accounts, stocks and shares, premium bonds, and property (excluding the home you are living in).
Normally full time students are excluded from claiming Housing Benefit. There are some exceptions to this rule however, for example single parents, disabled students or people in receipt of Income Support or Job Seekers Allowance (Income based).
Housing Benefit cannot help you pay a mortgage, you will need to contact the Department for Work and Pensions if you require this help.
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