What are Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit

Housing Benefit is a government scheme to help people on a low income or receiving certain benefits to pay their rent.

» More about Housing Benefit

Council Tax Benefit is to help people on a low income or receiving certain benefits to pay their council tax. Anyone who pays council tax can claim, including owner-occupiers - you do not have to be a tenant.

» More about Council Tax Benefit

In both cases, the amount of benefit you get will depend on your income, savings, and family circumstances including any other people you live with.

Second adult rebate (alternative council tax benefit) is to help people who are responsible for the council tax even if they are not on a low income themselves, if they share their home with one or more adults who are on a low income or certain benefits, but only in certain circumstances.

» More about Second Adult Rebate

Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit online services

How to fill in these forms

You can complete and send these forms to us online - just fill in and submit this form online, then print out the declaration and any other relevant forms, then sign it and return it to a WFD Shop or post it to:

Revenues and Benefits Service
London Borough of Waltham Forest
PO Box 856
London
E17 9PN

If you do not have access to a printer, there is space on the form for you to ask us to print a copy of the declaration for you to sign and return to us. We will also send you any additional forms that you need to complete.

You can get help with filling in this online form

» More about the security and benefits of the new interactive claim form

Large text and screen reader version

If you are visually impaired or use screen reader software, you can use a large text version that is compatible with most screen readers. Click on the links to the relevant form below, then once the form has loaded onto your computer, select the large text link . Please note that this version currently only works with Internet Explorer 6 and 7.

Apply for Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit

Who can apply?

Waltham Forest residents and tenants only

This application form is only for Waltham Forest residents and tenants who live in properties within Waltham Forest, or who have been housed outside the borough by Waltham Forest Council.

If you don't live in Waltham Forest

Apply online

» Apply using the Housing Benefit / Council Tax Benefit online claim form

Apply by phone

»   Call us on 020 8496 8550 during normal working hours (Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm) to apply by phone

Printed claim form

» Print out the Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit claim form (1.5MB PDF file), fill it in, then return it to a WFD Shop or send it to:

Revenues and Benefits Service
London Borough of Waltham Forest
PO Box 856
London
E17 9PN

Report a change in circumstances if you get Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit

» Use the online form to report a change in your circumstances if you are claiming benefit

» More about reporting changes in circumstances

If you want to tell us about changes related to your Council Tax account, you can get more information here

Report a change of address, and claim from your new address

» If you have moved within the borough, report your change of address and make a claim at your new address

» More about reporting a change of address

Apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP)

» Use the online form to apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment

» More about Discretionary Housing Payments

How much benefit will I get?

You can use the Benefits Calculator to give you an estimate of how much Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit you may get. However, this is only an estimate. If you then decide you want to claim benefit, you must make a formal application using one of the application forms above.

» Use the Housing Benefit / Council Tax Benefits Calculator