Benefit information and advice

Information about backdating Housing Benefit/Council Tax Reduction

Information explaining your Housing Benefit award letter.

No, banks are not allowed to use housing benefit or any other benefit to repay an overdraft. You can protect your housing benefit payments by telling your bank it should only be used to pay your rent. This protection is called a 'first right of appropriation of funds order'.

Second Adult Rebate can help with your Council Tax bill if you’ve lost the single person discount due to an additional adult living in your household who is not your partner.

An overpayment is any amount of Housing Benefit which has been paid to you but which you are not entitled to. This could have happened because you did not inform the Council of a change in your circumstances.

If you disagree with our decision you can challenge it.

Capital is anything that has a monetary value, such as land and property, investments and savings. You need to let us know if you, or your partner, have a change in the amount of savings or capital you have.

A non-dependant is someone aged 18 years or over who lives with you. It does not include someone living in your home who has a legally enforceable agreement to pay rent to you or your landlord.

Rules on under-occupation (spare bedrooms) that may affect the amount of Housing Benefit you receive.

If you are temporarily absent from your home, it may affect your benefit. Find out how you could be affected.

If you are a student, you may be able to claim housing benefit and council tax reduction, or receive a council tax discount.

Complete a Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction review form.

Information about housing benefit reductions for people who are living in a property larger than required for their household size.

Information about how and when we pay benefits

You can find out the date that your housing benefit payment will be in your bank, and the period that it covers.

All payments of Local Housing Allowance must be made directly to the tenant. However, in some special cases we can decide to pay the landlord directly instead.

Please help to stop the benefit cheats and to make sure that benefits go to those who are genuinely entitled to them.

Information about the benefit cap, who it affects and what the limits are on the total amount that most working-age people can claim in benefits.

Different rules apply prior to the introduction of Local Housing Allowance

If you have to pay for childcare costs, some of your earnings can be disregarded. This can be up to £175 for 1 child and £300 for 2 or more children each week.

Benefit Information on self-employment.