Housing and Council Tax Benefits

These pages explain about Housing and Council Tax Benefits; who can claim them and how to claim.

From April 2011 important changes to Housing Benefit regarding Local Housing Allowance come into effect. Please refer to the pages explaining Local Housing Allowance, and Housing Benefit reforms.

Housing and Council Tax Benefits help you pay your rent and/or Council Tax, if you are on a low income. The amount you will get is worked out by looking at:

  • how much money you have coming in
  • you and your partner’s personal circumstances and those of your household
  • the amount of rent and Council Tax you have to pay
  • the amount of savings and capital you have (more than £16,000 will normally mean you do not qualify).

We will prioritise your claim and aim to process it by the end of the next working day if you give us all of the relevant evidence and information we need at the time you make your claim.  

If you are a pensioner and own your own home, have a private pension and some money in the bank, you may still qualify for help. We now ignore the first £10,000 of any savings. If you receive Pension Guarantee Credit you will qualify. You may also qualify if you get Pension Savings Credit but have less than £16,000 or more in capital or savings.

Who does the scheme apply to?

  • anyone paying rent or Council Tax
  • tenants living in privately rented accommodation, hostels and housing association accommodation
  • owner occupiers.

Online Calculators

To help make sure you receive the benefits you are entitled to, you can use the following online tools: