Worthing Borough Council

• Introduction
• Changes from January 2012
• Changes from April 2011
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Benefits Calculator
• Claim Form
• Information leaflets & forms
• Types of Benefit
• Second Adult Rebate
• Who can claim
• How to claim
• Discretionary Housing Payments
• Rapid Reclaims
• Help completing a form
• Valid claim forms
• Documentary evidence
• Payments
• Length of the claim
• Non-dependants
• Changes in Circumstances
• Appeals
• Local Housing Allowance
• Landlords' Forum
• FAQs about April 2011 Benefit letters

Housing and Council Tax Benefit

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Lines open 9am to 5pm - Monday to Friday
Council Tax and Business Rates: 01903 221061
Housing and Council Tax Benefit: 01903 221062

revsbens@worthing.gov.uk

If you have just received your new Housing or Council Tax Benefit award letter from April 2011 and have a query about it, please see the Frequently Asked Questions section of the website.

Changes to Housing and Council Tax Benefit from January 2012

Please follow this link to a new page containing details about changes that may affect your entitlement to Housing Benefit from January 2012.

Frequently asked questions about Housing & Council Tax Benefit

Please follow this link to to a page containing answers to frequently asked questions about Housing & Council Tax Benefit.

On-line access to services

The new secure self-service system is an ideal way to view information about your Housing and/or Council Tax Benefit claim.

As a tenant, you can register to see details about your own claim including your benefit awards, the details that we have used to assess your entitlement plus the payments that have been made.

If you are a landlord who receives payment in respect of a tenant, you can see information about your tenant's entitlement and the payments that have been issued (but you will not be able to access their personal details that have been used to calculate their entitlement).

Please take me to Self Service

Brief details about Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit are given below.  For further information please see the Introduction to Housing & Council Tax Benefit section or use the links on the left-hand side of this page.

What is Housing Benefit?

The purpose of the Housing Benefit scheme is to help people who are on low income to pay their rent. Housing Benefit cannot help with mortgage costs.

From April 2008 the way that the rent that is used in the Housing Benefit assessment is calculated for most new claims from private tenants changed.  Please see the Local Housing Allowance page for details.

What is Council Tax Benefit?

The purpose of the Council Tax Benefit scheme is to help people who are on a low income to pay their Council Tax.  As with Housing Benefit, you do not need to be claiming a state benefit from the Department for Work & Pensions or The Pension Service to be eligible for help.

Housing and Council Tax Benefit Entitlement usually begins from the Monday following the date that the Council, the Jobcentre Plus Office or The Pension Service receive a claim form, so you should submit a claim as soon as possible.

Will I qualify for any help?

This depends on a number of factors including

• How much income you have, and what type of income it is
• How much capital (savings) you have
• Who else lives with you
• How much your rent or Council Tax is

Unless you are in receipt of a Guaranteed Pension Credit, if you have capital (savings) of more than £16,000 you will not be entitled to either Housing or Council Tax Benefit.

Benefits Calculator

The Benefits Calculator will provide you with an estimate of how much you might be entitled to, or alternatively free impartial advice can be obtained from the Citizens Advice Bureau.

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