Housing and council tax benefit are available to help
you meet the costs of running your home.
You may be able to claim these benefits to help pay your council
tax and rent if you are on a low income, income support, jobseekers
allowance or pension credit.
The amount you receive is dependent upon your weekly income and
individual circumstances.
If you or your partner are on a low income, income support,
jobseekers allowance or pension credit you may receive the full
amount.
If you are not in receipt of one of these three benefits we will
assess your circumstances by comparing your weekly income with the
amount the Government says you and your family need to live on each
week.
This is known as your applicable amount and it will be higher for
some people.
If your weekly income is less than or the same as your applicable
amount you will receive the amount of benefit owed to you.
If you are single and under 25 living in private rented
accommodation the amount of housing benefit you can receive will be
limited.
The amount is based on the market rent for single room
accommodation, with shared toilet and kitchen facilities, in your
area also known as single room rent (SRR).
There are exemptions if you are severely disabled or under 22 and
subject to a care order.
However, anyone under 25 is advised to obtain
a
pre-tenancy determination (PTD) prior to accepting any
tenancy.
If your income is too high you may not be eligible for council tax
benefit but there is another type you may able to claim
called
second adult rebate based on other adults who live in your
household.
However, you cannot receive housing benefit if you:
- own the property you live in
- pay rent to a close relative who lives in the same home
- a person from abroad with no access to public funds
- you or your partner have joint savings and investments of more
than £16,000.
You cannot receive council tax benefit if you:
- are a full-time student including non-student partners
- a joint tenant or joint owner
- part of a couple, including members of polygamous marriages and
couples, registered as liable for benefit at different
addresses
- a person from abroad with no access to public
funds.
A couple is defined as a man or woman who are married to each
other and members of the same household, or who are not married to
each other but are living together as man and wife.
Following the Civil Partnership Act it also now covers same sex
partners whether their relationship is registered under the act or
not.
