Housing Benefit is a government scheme to help you pay for your
rent. This section explains how to claim Housing Benefit if you pay
rent to a private landlord or landlady. This includes housing
associations and sheltered homes.
You can claim Housing Benefit if:
- You are on Income Support or claiming Job Seekers
Allowance.
- You are on a low income.
You cannot get Housing Benefit if:
- You, or your partner between you, have more than £16,000 in
savings, even if your income is low, unless you are in receipt of
Guarantee Credit.
- You pay rent to a close relative who lives in the same house as
you.
- You own the place where you live.
Most full-time students cannot claim Housing Benefit unless they
are:
- Pensioners.
- Lone parents.
- Disabled.
- Getting Income Support.
- Getting income based Job Seekers Allowance.
- Parents with dependant children or are responsible for a child
boarded out with them.
A partner is someone you are married to or in a civil
partnership with, or someone you live with as if you were married
to them, or in a civil partnership with.
Local Housing Allowance
Local Housing Allowance (LHA) is a new type of
housing benefit for people renting from private landlords
which was introduced nationally in April 2008. If you are
a tenant living in a property owned by a Housing Association or
other Registered Social Landlord you will not be affected by LHA.
From 7 April 2008 we will pay LHA to people who:
- Make a new claim for help with paying rent.
- Already get Housing Benefit but move to a new address.
- Have a break of 1 week or more in current Housing
Benefit.
How do I make a claim?
If you claim Income Support or Job Seekers Allowance the
Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will give you forms HBCT1
for you to claim Housing Benefit. You can claim Council Tax Benefit
on the same form. Fill in the forms and send them back to the
DWP straight away. They will send the form to us with proof of your
Income Support claim.
If you have not claimed, or cannot have, Income Support or Job
Seekers Allowance, you can claim benefit if you are on a low
income. You can call us on 01394 444838 to
find out if you qualify.
You can also use an online calculator (new window) to get an
indication of your entitlement to benefit but please note that the
results returned should not be used as a
definitive indication of your entitlement to benefit. Accurate
figures must be obtained from our Benefits Team or from the
relevant agency of the
Department for Work and Pensions (new
window).
Filling in an application form
To make a claim, you need to fill in an application form.
We will send you a form in the post if you call us on 01394
444838 or email
benefits@suffolkcoastal.gov.uk
with your name and address.
Alternatively, you can print off a claim form by
selecting the link below:
Follow this link for help with downloading and opening PDF files.
After you have filled in the form, send it to us at the address
below as soon as you can. If you do not send it quickly, you
could lose benefit. If you need help filling in the form, someone
from the Benefits Team will be able to help you - just call us on
01394 444838.
If you are married, or living with someone as if you are married
to them, you only need to fill in one claim form. You'll need to
tell us about the money you both have.
Benefits Team,
Suffolk Coastal District Council,
Melton Hill,
Woodbridge,
Suffolk IP12 1AU.
Making a benefit claim online
You can use our new service to make a claim for Housing Benefit
and or Council Tax Benefit online. Follow this link to
find out more about making a benefit claim
online.
Proof of earnings
You must send us, or bring in proof of the money you earn, so we
can work out your Housing Benefit.
If you work for an employer - you will have to
send us:
- Your last 5 payslips, if you are paid weekly.
- Your last 2 payslips, if you are paid monthly.
If you have just started work - do not
delay sending your form back. We will let you know what information
we need.
If you are self-employed - please send us your
most recent accounts. If you cannot do this, get in touch with us
for more advice.
If you cannot send the information now - it
will speed up your claim if you send proof of earnings and pension
payments at the same time as you send the form. If you cannot get
hold of this information straight away, just send the form. You
must send this information as soon as possible as we cannot work
out your benefit without it. If you don't, you will lose
benefit.
Your rent
You need to send us proof of how much rent you pay, and what
services are included in your rent. Services include things like
heating, water rates and meals. If you have a tenancy agreement,
send it with your form. We will use it to work out all the details
we need.
If you do not have a tenancy agreement, ask your landlord or
landlady to write a letter telling us:
- His, or her, name and address.
- Your name and address.
- How much rent you pay.
- What services are included in your rent.
- How much you pay for the services.
- What date your tenancy started.
- What date you moved into your home.
What happens next?
When we get your claim form with proof of how much rent you pay,
and proof of earnings if you are working we will work out your
'eligible rent'. This is the rent you pay each week after we have
taken off the amount you pay for any services.
A Rent Officer will look at how much rent you are paying for
your home. They do not need to do this if your rent has been
registered as a fair rent.
Rent Officers are employed by the government to help us work out
how much rent we can help you with. The Rent Officer will decide if
your rent is higher than the rent paid for similar homes in your
area and if your home is larger than you need.
If this happens, we will base your benefit on the rent
appropriate for your needs and we will send you a letter explaining
what we have done.
Follow this link for information
about how we work out how much Housing Benefit you are
entitled to.
When will my benefit start?
Your benefit will usually start from the Monday following the
date you first contacted either the local authority (this office)
or the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP). This can be by
telephone, letter, email, or the day you visit these offices to
request a claim form. You then have one month to complete and
return the form to the Benefits Office. If your form is returned
after the month, the date your benefit starts would be the Monday
following the date the form is received. If you request benefit to
be paid from an earlier date this is called ‘backdating’. Benefit
can be backdated for up to 52 weeks if you can prove good cause for
not claiming earlier.
How quickly will my benefit be paid?
All Housing Benefit claims are dealt with as soon as possible
and payment usually made within 14 days. How long it takes to work
out your claim depends on how quickly you send in all the
information.
How will I be paid?
Housing Benefit is paid direct to your bank or building society
account every four weeks. If we cannot pay you direct to an account
you need to write and tell us the reason.
In some cases we can pay your landlord direct, for example if rent
is payable to a Registered Social Landlord or you are unable to
look after your own money.
Changes in your circumstances
Your benefit is worked out using the information you have given
in your benefit application form. If your circumstances change, you
must tell us as it may affect your benefit entitlement. Follow this
link for more about
the changes you must tell us about.
Help and advice
For general questions or advice or if you need a home
visit because of age, disability or other circumstances
please call us on 01394 444838 or email
benefits@suffolkcoastal.gov.uk.
You can also get help and information by
visiting our offices in Woodbridge and Felixstowe.
For free independent help and advice on Housing and Council
Tax Benefit contact your local Citizen's Advice Bureau.
Back to
the Housing and Council Tax Benefit introduction
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