You can only receive Housing Benefit if you are:
- on a low income
- liable to pay rent or council tax
- living in the property
- you and your partner are of pension age
- of working age living in supported, sheltered or temporary housing (bed and breakfast, refuge, hostel, supported housing with care, support or supervision)
People who work full time or part time, are self-employed or retired can claim, as well as people who are unemployed or can not work because of illness or because they are caring for someone.
The amount you receive depends on your financial and personal circumstances and the local housing allowance rate at the time of application.
How to claim
There is no automatic entitlement to benefit, an application form along with supporting evidence must be submitted. You can collect an application form at the council offices, or contact us and we will post one out to you.
The application form states what supporting evidence is required to allow us to process a claim. These documents must be the originals, photocopies will not be accepted.
If you cannot provide evidence straightaway you should send in the form and submit the evidence later.
Receipts will be given for claims accepted at your local office, if requested.
There are a number of documents that must be provided in support of a benefit application to allow benefit entitlement to be determined. All of these documents must be original. Photocopies will not be accepted.