The main 'means tested' or ‘income related’ benefits are:

• Housing Benefit
• Council Tax Benefit
• Income Support
• Income-based Job Seeker's Allowance
• Working and Child Tax Credits
• Pension Credits
• Employment Support Allowance (from 27 October 2008)

This means that the amount of benefit that's awarded is calculated by reference to the income and needs of the customer and their family.

Housing and Council Tax Benefit

These are administered by local councils.  Housing Benefit is to help people on a low income to pay their rent including ground rent for caravans or mooring charges for boats, but help is not available for mortgage payments or maintenance charges.

Council Tax Benefit has two forms:

• Main Council Tax Benefit, which is to help people on a low income to pay their Council Tax
• Second Adult Rebate, which may be awarded in respect of a second adult who also lives in the property and who is on a low income.  Further details are available here

You do not need to be in receipt of another state benefit to be entitled to Housing and/or Council Tax Benefit, and can be working as an employee or on a self-employed basis.

A claim form can be downloaded from this website, or you can contact a Customer Services advisor for further information.

Income Support and income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance

These are administered by the Department for Work and Pensions.  Further information about Income Support and Job Seeker's Allowance can be found at the Jobcentre Plus website.  To make a claim:

• Telephone: 0845 608 8715
• Text Phone: 0845 608 8761
• Address: Job Centre Plus, Worthing BDC, James Watt Way, Crawley, West Sussex RH77 1AU

Tax Credits

These are administered by HM Revenue & Customs.  Further information can be found at HM Revenue & Customs website.  To make a claim:

• Telephone: 0845 300 3900
• Address: Teville Gate House, Railway Approach, Worthing, West Sussex BN11 1TY

Pension Credits

These are administered by The Pension, Disability and Carers Service, which is part of the Department for Work and Pensions.  Further information can be found at The Pension Service website.  To make a claim:

• Telephone: 0845 6060 265

You can also make enquiries at Worthing Age Concern, 62 Chapel Road, Worthing, West Sussex BN11 1BN or at Worthing Homes Resource Centre, Davison House, North Street, Worthing, West Sussex BN11 1ER.

Employment and Support Allowance

This is a new benefit from 27 October 2008 that replaces Incapacity Benefit, Severe Disablement Allowance and Income Support (on the grounds of disability).  There are two types of allowance - one is means tested and the other is based on National Insurance contribution payments.  It will only be claimed by new customers, so customers already in receipt of Incapacity Benefit, Severe Disablement Allowance or Income Support (on the grounds of disability) will continue to receive the benefit they currently receive.

Employment and Support Allowance is administered by the Department for Work and Pensions, but further information can be found at the Jobcentre Plus website.  To make a claim:

• Telephone: 0845 608 8715
• Text Phone: 0845 608 8761
• Address: Job Centre Plus, Worthing BDC, James Watt Way, Crawley, West Sussex RH77 1AU

Further information about welfare benefits can be found at the Directgov website.

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