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- Housing and Council Tax Benefit - An Overview
Housing and Council Tax Benefit - An Overview
Who can claim Council Tax and/or Housing Benefit?
You can claim Council Tax Benefit if you are liable to pay Council Tax for your home.
If you are a tenant and are also liable for Council Tax your claim will automatically be assessed for both Housing and Council Tax Benefit. If you are finding it difficult to pay your rent or your Council Tax you should apply for benefit. If you become liable for Council Tax after your Housing Benefit claim is assessed, you must make a new claim for Council Tax Benefit.
You do not have to be unemployed or unable to work.
You can apply if you or your partner are working (either full-time or part-time) and on a low income.
You can be self-employed.
You will not be entitled if you have savings or capital of more than 16,000, unless you receive guaranteed pension credit.
Capital includes all savings, cash saved at home, bank and building society accounts, stocks and shares, premium bonds, and property (other than the home you are living in).
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.
If you live with your landlord/landlady and he/she is a close relative, you may not be entitled to Housing and Council Tax Benefits.
Most full-time students cannot claim Housing Benefit. There are some exceptions to this rule, such as single parents, disabled students or people who receive Income Support or Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance.
If you recently moved to England from overseas, you usually have to demonstrate that you have the right to stay in England , and satisfy the Habitual Residence Test, before you can receive benefit.
How much HB and CTB can I get?
This depends on many things – you and your partner’s income, savings etc, and that of anyone over 18 years old who lives with you. To find out if you may be entitled to Housing Benefit use our on-line benefit calculator, by visiting www.enfield.gov.uk; select Benefits, then the Benefit Calculator. This will work out an estimate of how much you may be entitled to. If you phone or visit us we will not be able to give you an immediate answer as to whether you will qualify for benefit.
Pages in Housing and Council Tax Benefit - An Overview
- 1. Housing and Council Tax - New claims
- 2. Who can claim Council Tax and/or Housing Benefit?
- 3. If you are renting from a private landlord
- 4. Estimate your Housing Benefit
- 5. How Housing Benefit is paid
- 6. How to apply for Housing Benefit / Council Tax Benefit
- 7. Processing your claim for Housing Benefit / Council Tax Benefit
- 8. Extra bedroom for overnight carers
- 9. Appeal against a decision
- 10. Benefit fraud - avoiding fraudulent claims
- 11. Help and advice with your Mortgage
- 12. Other welfare benefits
- 13. Discretionary Housing Payments
- 14. External links
