You can use our online service to make a claim for Housing
Benefit and or Council Tax Benefit over the Internet. This service
is available 24 hours a day, 7days a week.
Before you make a claim
Read our webpages to find out about Housing and Council Tax Benefit
and get an indication of your entitlement to benefit by
using the online calculator (new window). If
you think you may qualify for benefit you can make your claim using
the online application form.
Important - for any benefit to be paid to you,
you will need to let us have details of an account where the
benefit can be paid into. We are unable to pay you Housing Benefit
or Council Tax Benefit by cheque.
Using the online application form
The form will help and guide you to ensure that you only fill in
parts that are relevant to your own claim. It checks itself for
errors and highlights anything you have missed.
Important - when you complete the form you will
be asked for a Council Tax reference number. If you do not have or
know your reference number please enter the special code
200017729 - this will allow you to complete and
submit the form.
You can save your form and go back to it and edit it before you
submit it to us. If you save your form you will be asked to create
a password and you will be given a reference number which you need
to make a note of so that you can go back to your form.
Important - the Council has a duty to
protect the public funds it administers, and to this end we may use
the information you have provided on this form for the prevention
and detection of fraud. We may also share this information
with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public
funds for these purposes. Follow this link for more
information about the national fraud
initiative.
Make a new claim or edit a saved form (opens in
a new window)
If you experience any difficulty using the form call us on
01394 444838 and we will complete the form for you
over the phone. Alternatively, you can print off and complete a
paper claim form (new window PDF 185KB)
which can be posted to us or dropped into our offices.
Follow this link for help with downloading and opening PDF files.
What happens next?
Once you have submitted your form we will check it for you, and
process your application. We will write and tell you the amount of
help you are entitled to (if any) in paying your Council Tax and/or
rent. Later, we will make an appointment to visit you at home. The
Visiting Officer will ask you to sign a copy of the form and
confirm your identity. They will also ask to see the documents
verifying your personal financial circumstances.
View your benefit claim details online
When we have processed your application and notified you of your
benefit claim you can
register to use our online service to view
details of your claim
online.