Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit
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These benefits are administered by Local Authorities
and paid to those on low income to help meet payment of rent
and/or council tax. Low income can be low earnings, low self
employed income, income from other state benefits such as
incapacity benefit, job seekers allowance or income support.
Council Tax Benefit gives help to those with low income
who are liable to pay council tax. You can apply for both benefits
if you need to pay rent and council tax, or apply for help
with rent only or council tax only.
Who can apply for Housing and Council Tax Benefit?
Anyone who is responsible for paying Council Tax for the
property they live in i.e. the named person, or their partner, on
the bill may be able to claim help with their Council Tax.
Anyone who has a responsibility to pay rent on a commercial
basis may be able to get help paying their rent. You do not have to
be paying rent to a housing association to apply for housing
benefit. People who pay rent, including lodgers, boarders, sub
tenants, hostel dwellers, housing association and council tenants
can apply.
If you would like to make a claim for help meeting payments
for rent and council tax you will find details of making a
claim on our
claiming benefit page.
What's new
Before you apply
Local Housing Allowance
The new scheme for deciding the
amount of rent for benefit purposes for private tenant claims from
7 April 2008.
Income and Capital
Civil Partnerships
Other people in your household
Details relating to your
non-dependants, young people for whom you receive child benefit,
other people living with you who have a low income and how
these details affect the calculation of your benefit.
Second Adult Rebate
Claiming help with your council tax
because the second person in your household has a low income.
Overpayments of benefits
Details of why overpayments of benefits
occur and how they are recovered.
Information for students
Details relating to claims from
students.
Appeals and Backdating
Discretionary Housing Payments
Details of how to
apply for additional
help if there is a shortfall between the amount we award you
and the amount you have to pay.
Information for Landlords
Changes in Circumstances
How to
let us know of changes in
your circumstances and why it is important to do so.
Temporary absence from home
Benefit on two homes
Information on what benefit can be
paid if you have a liability to pay rent on two
homes.
Timescales and Assessments
Benefits Leaflets
Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit leaflets that can be
viewed on-line, downloaded and
completed.
Tackling Housing and Council Tax Benefit fraud in Test
Valley
Reporting suspected fraud to our
Counter Fraud Team.
Revenues Services
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