Who can claim?
Your enquiries: getting help, advice and guidance
Please note: our Fenella building address is closed after Thursday 31 July 2008. If you have any queries about your benefit claim after this date, please visit our surgeries around the borough.
- You must be charged rent and/or Council Tax, for your home to get Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit
- For further information please contact us by telephone on 020 8359 2111 or typetalk on 18001 8359 2111
You can claim whether you are working or not, receiving other benefits, renting privately or from the council, living in a hostel, or similar accommodation. Normally claims for Housing Benefit should be made by the person responsible for paying the rent to the landlord.
For Council Tax Benefit, the person who is liable to pay the Council Tax for the property should make the claim.
Savings limit
The amount of your savings does not matter if you are receiving Guarantee Credit or wish to claim Second Adult Rebate. If you want to claim Housing Benefit or main Council Tax Benefit your savings or capital must be under £16,000.
Savings over £6,000 affect how much Housing and Council Tax Benefit you can get.
Capital includes all savings, cash saved at home, bank and building society accounts, stocks and shares, premium bonds, and property.
People who are not entitled
- If you rent from and live with a close relative we can not pay you Housing Benefit
- If you have recently come from abroad you may have to prove that you have the right to stay in this country. You will also have to pass the 'habitual residency test' before we can pay you any benefit
- Most full-time students are excluded from claiming housing benefit.
There are some exceptions to this rule, single parents, disabled students, European Union nationals or people in receipt of Income Support/Income Based Job Seeker’s Allowance.
- The rules for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit are quite complicated. This website explains the main rules but the best way to find out if you are entitled is to make a claim.
