Housing Benefit and Local Council Tax Reduction is a means tested benefit administered by the Council.
Please find information below including a download of the Couuncil Tax Reduction Scheme 2020/21
- Who can claim Housing Benefit?
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Anyone who has to pay rent can apply for Housing Benefit, even if you are in work and on a low income.
In some cases, even though someone has to pay rent, they are not always entitled to Housing Benefit. For example when someone:
- Lives with a close relative, who is also the landlord
- Sets up a tenancy in order to take advantage of the Housing Benefit scheme e.g. on a non-commercial basis
- Has income which is too high to qualify
- Has capital or savings in excess of £16,000
- Falls into categories which are excluded from claiming eg. certain students.
- Who can claim Local Council Tax Reduction?
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Anyone who has a liability to pay Council Tax can apply for Local Council Tax Reduction, even if you already get a discount on your Council Tax i.e. if you live alone.
You can claim even if you work and have a low income.
In some cases, even though you have a liability to pay council tax you would not be entitled to Local Council Tax Reduction. For example when someone:
- Has income which is too high to qualify
- A working age customer has capital or savings in excess of £6,000
To find out how to make a claim, click How to Claim below:
- How to Claim
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Please visit our On-Line resource on how to claim by following this link
- Get An Estimate
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Use the on-line calculator to estimate how much benefit you may be entitled to.
- What other benefits may you be entitled to?
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To find out what other benefits you may be entitled to, visit the Direct Gov website or call the benefits helpline number on 01543-464292.