Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit are national means tested welfare benefits that are administered by councils on behalf of Central Government.  The schemes are defined by legislation and the Council doesn't have any discretion regarding the rules governing the calculation of entitlement.

Residents wishing to claim Housing or Council Tax Benefit can apply to Worthing Borough Council, but it is also possible to make a claim for either of these benefits through the Jobcentre Plus Office or The Pension Service.

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 forms should be submitted as soon as possible.

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.

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, and you can claim if you rent your accommodation from either a private landlord or a housing association.  However, you will not be eligible for any help if your landlord is a close relative and they live at the same address - for example, adult sons and daughters who live at home with their parents.

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.

Housing Benefit payments (which can be made either to the tenant or the landlord) are usually made by BACS transfer straight into a bank acccount.

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.

There are two types of benefit

• Main Council Tax Benefit: which is based on the low income of the person responsible for paying the Council Tax
• Second Adult Rebate: which is based on the low income of a second adult living in the property.  It compensates for the loss of the 25% Single Person Discount that is awarded when someone lives on their own

For the purposes of Second Adult Rebate, a second adult is someone other than the customer's partner, a joint owner or tenant, or a boarder, lodger or sub-tenant.  There can be more than one "second adult" in the property, but the person liable to pay the Council Tax must apply for Second Adult Rebate (by completing a claim form) and supply the income and capital details of the second adult(s).

Both main Council Tax Benefit and Second Adult Rebate are "paid" by crediting the Council Tax account, which reduces the on-going instalments that need to be paid.

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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