Changes to Benefits
The government is making more changes to benefits from January 2012. These changes will limit or reduce the amount of benefit we can pay in some cases.
» More about the changes to Benefits
What are these benefits?
Housing Benefit (including Local Housing Allowance) and Council Tax Benefit are to help with paying your rent or Council Tax if you are on benefits or a low income, whether or not you are working.
There is also the second adult rebate to help with Council Tax. You can claim this even if you are not on a low income yourself.
Benefit basics
- More about Housing Benefit
- More about Local Housing Allowance (LHA)
- More about Council Tax Benefit
- More about second adult rebate - help with council tax even if you're not on a low income
- Who can claim these benefits?
- How to claim these benefits
Special cases
- Under 25 and a private tenant?
- the amount of benefit you get may be limited
- this age limit is increasing to 35 from January 2012 - In hospital? Your benefit may be affected
- Benefit overpayments - what happens if you're paid too much benefit
- What to do if you don't agree with our decision
- Discretionary Housing Payments - extra help with housing and Council Tax costs
- Selling then renting back your home to live in? Read this first as you could lose your entitlement to Housing Benefit
Apply for Council Tax Benefit, Housing Benefit or Local Housing Allowance
- Make a claim for Benefit now using our online form
- Evidence you will need to show us
- Use our benefits calculator to find out how much benefit you could get
Have your circumstances changed?
You must tell us about any changes in your circumstances that may affect your benefit.
- Report a change in your circumstances
- Tell us and claim for your new address online if you've moved
- How moving home can affect your benefit
Self-service for Benefits
Register online to see how much benefit we are paying you, when your next payment is due, and what information we used to calculate it.
Landlords can check the status of their tenants' claims where they are being paid direct to the landlord, and look up details of the benefit payments we have made to you.
