Online forms?
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- Can I claim benefit if I am working?
Yes, if you are working you still may be entitled to Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit (benefits), though it will depend on how much you earn.If you are not already getting benefits but would like to apply please complete our Claim Form.If you are already getting benefits and have started w ...
- Can I claim benefit if I go abroad?
If you are receiving Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit and go abroad for less than 13 weeks, we can still pay for your home in this country.You should tell us if you are going abroad, and let us know for how long.Your home must not be re-let or sublet whilst you are away.
- Can I claim Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit?
Anyone can make a claim for Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit, but this does not mean you will be entitled. You can use our on-line Benefits calculator to see if your entitled. on-line Benefits calculator
- Can I make an online payment?
Online payments can be made at Online payment site
- How do I claim Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit?
If you want to claim Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit, you will need to fill in and submit a claim form. You can get the form by: a) printing the Claim Formb) calling Customer Services on 01227 862300 and asking for a form or appointment to complete a form, orc) visiting any of our of ...
- How do you work out my monthly rent into a weekly figure?
The Housing Benefit regulations state how a monthly rent is converted into a weekly figure. If your rent is monthly we multiply it by 12 to get the yearly figure and divide by 52 to get a weekly figure. Example: 500 per month500 x 12 = 6000 / 52 = 115.38 per week600 per month600 x 12 = 7200 / 5 ...
- How long until you pay my Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit?
It is important for us to decide and pay your claim as soon as possible as we know people rely on the help we give.Our current target and performance is available on our How we are doing page.To help us deal with your claim quickly please:a) Fill in our Claim Form clearly and answer every questi ...
- How will I be paid?
This depends on which benefits you qualify for and what you asked for on your claim form. If you are entitled to Council Tax Benefit we will credit your benefit to your Council Tax account and send you a new bill.Housing benefit is a bit more complicated, depending on if you rent from the counc ...
- I can't afford to pay the difference between my benefit and my rent or council tax, what can I do?
If you are suffering financial hardship, you can ask us for a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP). A DHP can only be awarded to help with rent if you qualify for Housing Benefit.A DHP can only be awarded to help with Council Tax if you qualify for Council Tax Benefit. Qualifying for Second Adul ...
- I want my Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit backdated. How do I claim?
Benefits are normally awarded from the Monday following the date we receive your claim, so its important to claim as soon as you need help.Our claim form has space on it for you to ask for your benefit to be backdated. If you have already given us your claim form then just write in asking us to ...
- I'm a student why don't I qualify for benefit?
The Housing Benefit regulations treat some students as not liable for rent, this means that those students cannot qualify for benefit. Not all students are treated this way. For more information try Students and Housing BenefitThe information on this page is for guidance only and is not a full ...
- The Housing Benefit is paid direct to my tenant, and is not being used towards the payment of rent. What can I do about this?
If the tenant is more than eight weeks in arrears with the rent, you should write and confirm this to us, and request that their Housing Benefit entitlement to be paid to you instead of the tenant. In this situation, we can redirect any further benefit entitlement to you. Please be aware also, ...
- What can I do if I disagree with the decision on my benefit claim?
If you disagree with a decision we have made about your Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit, you can ask us to look at it again. If we don't change our decision you may have the right to appeal to an independent tribunal. If you want us to reconsider our decision you should write to us withi ...
- What happens when I stop getting Child Benefit?
This may affect the way your benefit is calculated. Benefit is often calculated using an applicable amount. This is the amount the Government says your household needs to meet basic living expenses according to the age, size and health of the household. If you are responsible for dependant chil ...
- What if I don't pay back my housing benefit overpayment?
If you do not pay back an overpayment of Housing Benefit after we have sent you invoices and demands we use a variety of recovery methods including recovering through Welfare Benefits. If all other recovery action fails we will take Court action to recover the overpayment. Once a Court Order ha ...
- What is a child/young person?
In Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit the term child means a person under the age of 16. The term young person means a person over the age of 16 but under the age of 20 who is not in receipt of Income Support or Income Based Job Seekers Allowance and is treated as a child for the purposes ...
- What is a close relative?
In Housing Benefits the term "close relative" means: 1) a parent, or2) a parent-in-law, or3) a son, or4) a son-in-law, or5) a daughter, or6) a daughter-in-law, or7) a step-parent, or8) a step-son, or9) a step-daughter, or10) a brother, or11) a sister, or12) the spouse of any of the preceding pe ...
- What is a non-dependant?
In Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit a non-dependant is someone who resides with the claimant but they are not: 1) the partner of the claimant, or2) a child or young person who is dependant on the claimant, or3) anyone who jointly occupies the dwelling and is either a co-owner or a joint ...
- What is a relevant change of circumstances?
If a determination from a Rent Officer is being used in the calculation of your housing benefit that determination usually lasts for 52 weeks. We can only re-refer your rent to the Rent Officer before the 52 weeks have expired if there is has been a relevant change of circumstances. The type of ...
