Housing Benefit
Some people find it hard to make ends meet. Housing Benefit helps people on low incomes to pay their rent and is claimed through Durham County Council.
You do not have to be claiming any other state benefits to make a claim, but should have a low income. Even if you work full time you may be able to claim Housing Benefit. The first £6,000 (£10,000 for Pensioners) of your savings are disregarded within your benefit claim.If you have savings of more than £16,000 it would be unusual to be able to claim Housing Benefit.
What do I need to do ?
- To claim housing benefit, you must complete an application form and provide supporting evidence for yourself & partner.
- Tenancy Agreement
- Two form of identification
- Passport
- Birth Certificate
- Full Driving License
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National Insurance Number
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Proof of current address
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Utility Bill
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Proof of Income:
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Wages – 5 weekly or 2 monthly payslips
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State Benefit,
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Private Pensions
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Maintenance
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Savings & Investments
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Last 2 months bank statements (all types) bank, building society & Post office.
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PEP’s, TESSA’s and ISA’s
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Stocks, Shares, and Unit Trusts
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National Savings Certificates
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Cash
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Property or land you own
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What if I have a partner?
You only need to complete in one claim form, but you must both sign it.
If my partner works and I don’t, can I claim for myself?
No, when you claim benefit, your partners information will be required. Your benefit will be assessed using your joint income.
Do I get less benefit if I have people living with me?
Your Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit will usually be reduce if you have grown-up children you do not receive Child Benefit for, or any other adult living with you. These people are called non - dependants. Your Benefit is reduced by a fixed amount. This amount does not depend on what the non – dependant pays you, even if they pay nothing at all.
However, there are certain circumstances where there is no non – dependant charge . These include if you or your partner receive:
- Attendance Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance (care component) or
- Are registered blind.
From April 2012 - Your Housing Benefit will be reduced by the following amounts.
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Aged 18 or over and working 16 hours or more a week |
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Gross weekly income |
Weekly Housing Benefit deduction |
Weekly Council Tax Benefit deduction |
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Less than £124 |
£12.40 |
£3.30 |
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Between £124 and £182.99 |
£28.44 |
£3.30 |
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Between £183 and £237.99 |
£39.11 |
£6.55 |
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Between £238 and £315.99 |
£63.98 |
£6.55 |
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Between £316 - £393.99 |
£72.86 |
£8.25 |
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Over £394 |
£80.00 |
£9.90 |
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All other non-dependants not working 16hrs+ |
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£12.40 |
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These amounts are based on their gross weekly income (before tax and National Insurance are taken)
Proof of non – dependants income will be required
What if I am a student?
Most students are not eligible to receive Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit. However, some students may get Housing Benefit if they are:
- a single parent
- a couple with dependant children
- disabled or
- receiving Income Support, JSA (IB) or ESA (IR).
When will my benefit start?
The Monday after you make your claim.
Even if you are waiting for supporting documents such as bank statements, proof of rent, wage slips or proof of state benefits, you must still register you claim or you may lose benefit.
How long will my benefit last?
Benefit will be paid until you are no longer entitled to benefit or if your circumstances change. When this happens, we will look at your claim again.
What do I do if my circumstances change?
If your circumstances change at any time, you must inform Durham County Council immediately. Typical examples of changes in circumstances are if:
- you change address
- your rent changes
- the number of people living with you changes
- your income or any member of your household’s income changes
- you stop getting Income Support or JSA (IB) or
- your income or savings change.
If you delay in reporting a change in your circumstances you will have to repay any benefits you are overpaid. If you are on Income Support, JSA (IB) or ESA (IR), you must also tell the Department for Work and Pensions.
What if I do not agree with the amount of benefit I am given?
You should contact DCC for them to explain how your benefit was calculated. You must do this within one month of the date on the decision letter. An explanation letter outlining the decision will be sent as soon as possible.
If you do not agree with the amount of benefit you have been awarded, you should write to DDC within one month of the date on the decision letter, asking them to look at the decision again.
If you have already asked for an explanation, you will have one month from the date on the decision letter plus the time it took to send you the explanation, to ask DCC to look at the decision again. If you delay longer than this, normally the decision will only be changed from the date you wrote to them.
If you still disagree with the decision you can appeal to an Independent Tribunal. You can ask DCC for a form. (A leaflet ‘What to do if you think the decision about your Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit is wrong’ is available from DCC).
Calculate and claim Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit
Do you want to find out how much benefit you could get?
Do you want to claim benefit straightaway?
Use the BENEFIT CLAIM AND CALCULATOR to:
- see how much Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit you could get if you rent - then claim online!
- check and claim Council Tax Benefit if you own your home
- find out if you're entitled to Income Support, Pension Credit or Tax Credits It‘s quick, easy and secure.
The first part is the online calculator - answer questions accurately to see what you could get. Then go on to the second part - the online claim - to get things moving quickly you can use the link provided below. For more information contact Durham County Council 01207 693693.
What is Council Tax Benefit?
This is for people on a low income who need help to pay their Council Tax. You only need to complete one claim form for both Housing Benefit & Council Tax Benefit.
Do I get less benefit if I have people living with me?
Your Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit will usually be reduce if you have grown-up children you do not receive Child Benefit for, or any other adult living with you. These people are called non - dependants. Your Benefit is reduced by a fixed amount. This amount does not depend on what the non – dependant pays you, even if they pay nothing at all. However, there are certain circumstances where there is no non – dependant charge. These include if you or your partner receive:
- Attendance Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance (care component) or
- Are registered blind.
Can you reduce my Council Tax any other way?
Yes, if you are not entitled to Council Tax Benefit, You may be able to claim:
- Second Adult Rebate
- Discounts
- Exemptions and
- Reductions for people with disabilities.
What is a Council Tax discount?
You can get a discount of 25% off your Council Tax if you are the only adult in a property. When we look at the number of adults living in a property to award a discount, we do not count some of them including:
- full time students
- people with severe mental health problems or learning difficulties
- carers
- some 18 and 19 year olds who you receive child benefit for and
- people in prison.
What is Second Adult Rebate?
Second Adult Rebate is a type of Council Tax Benefit. It is available to people who have a ‘second adult’ in their home who is on Income Support, income based Jobseekers Allowance, income related Employment and Support Allowance or is on a low income. It was designed to compensate for the loss of single person Council Tax discount caused by the ‘second adult’ living in the property.
What are Council Tax Exemptions?
When a property is empty, there may be a time when it is ‘exempt’ from Council Tax. This means that nobody is responsible for paying Council Tax for that property. Also certain properties may be exempt even if people are living in them, for example, if all the people living there are full time students.
What are Council Tax reductions for people with disabilities?
If a disabled person living in a property has to use a wheelchair indoors or has an extra room because of their needs, they may be entitled reduce their Council Tax.
How do I claim a Council Tax discount, exemption or reduction?
You need to complete a form to claim any of these reductions. All claim forms are available from Durham County Council 01207 693000
