What are housing benefit and council tax benefit?
Housing Benefit and Local Housing Allowance are government schemes to help people on low incomes or getting some state benefits to pay their rent.
Council Tax Benefit is a government scheme to help people pay their council tax. Anyone who pays council tax can claim, including owner-occupiers - you do not have to be a tenant.
Can I apply if I work, or get other benefits?
Yes, you can claim if you are working and on a low income.
You can also claim if you receive other benefits such as job seekers allowance, income support, employment support allowance, or a pension (depending on how much your pension is).
The amount of benefit you get will depend on your income, savings, and family circumstances. You can use the online Benefits Calculator to get an estimate.
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 but are responsible for the Council Tax and share your home with one or more adults in certain circumstances. Find out more about the second adult rebate.
More about benefits
- What is Housing Benefit
- Local Housing Allowance (for new claims from private tenants after April 2008)
- Under 25? - special rules may apply
- In hospital? - how staying in hospital may affect your benefit
- What is Council Tax Benefit
- Second adult rebate to help with your council tax, even if you're not on a low income or on benefits
- Who can claim Housing Benefit?
- Selling then renting back your home to live in - advice on how this may affect your entitlement to housing benefit
How to apply
- Apply online for Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit using our interactive claim form
- Phone us - just call the Benefits Service on 020 8496 8550 (this number is only for making a new claim for benefit or reporting a change in circumstances). We can take your claim over the telephone and make an appointment for you to bring your evidence in.
- Visit a Waltham Forest Direct (WFD) shop (Monday - Friday, 8.30am - 6pm) and we'll help you apply there and then.
- The shops are busiest all day on Mondays and Tuesdays and between 12-3pm on other days. Enjoy a shorter waiting time by coming in during our less busy periods.
- Print out an application form for Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit (PDF1.5 MB) then fill it in and return it to us with your evidence.
- You can get an application form from the Revenues and Benefits Service or pick one up at one of our Waltham Forest Direct Shops. Just fill it in, sign it, and return it to us with your evidence.
- Evidence you will need to show us.
- Estimate how much you may get with the Online Benefits calculator.
- Do it online - apply for benefit on this website, or report changes in your circumstances, using our interactive online forms.
» More about applying for Benefit
Changes in circumstances
- Report a change in your circumstances
- Moving Home - how it affects your benefit
- Report your Change of Address
Other information
- Not enough Benefit? Apply for Discretionary Housing Payments
- Overpayments of benefit
- Appealing against a decision about benefits
Contact us
Related links
- JobCentrePlus
- WorkNet - Helping people into work
- Benefits Advice from DirectGov about other benefits, tax credits and the state pension
- MyWalthamForest.net - local jobs, support and training
- Pathways to work - to help people claiming health related benefits into work
- Council tax
- Council tax reductions (discounts, exemptions, disabled band reductions)
