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Benefit Entitlement

Please use the links below to jump to the section you wish to view, or scroll down this page to view the sections in order.

• Entitlement
• When will my Benefit Start
• Change of Circumstances

How much Housing/Council Tax may I be entitled to?

You can use the following tables as a rough guide to see how much Housing and Council Tax benefit you may be entitled to.

Calculate your total weekly income.

Ignore Income Tax, National Insurance contributions and half of any private pension contributions you pay.  Also ignore Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance and War Pensions.

If you work, deduct £5.00 if you are a single person, £10.00 for a couple and £25.00 for a lone parent.

When calculating your weekly rent, do not include amounts for services such as water rates, heating, lighting or meals, because these services are not eligible for Housing Benefit.  If your rent is high or you are over accommodated, your rent eligible for Benefit purposes may be restricted by the Rent Service.

Compare your circumstances in the left column and your weekly income to your eligible rent and Council Tax to see if you may be entitled to Benefit. The table is a broad guide only and does not cover every situation.

If you have non-dependants in your household, a non-dependant deduction may be made from your Benefit entitlement based on their income.

There are separate rules for single people under 25 who rent accommodation from a private landlord. Please contact the Housing Benefit Service if you would like more information about this.  

If you have any questions or would like a personal calculation carried out, please contact my office, we will be pleased to advise you. 

Housing Benefit Entitlement Chart

Council Tax Benefit Entitlement Chart

When will my Benefit start?

Housing and Council Tax Benefit is normally awarded from the Monday after the date you submitted your application.

However if you have good cause for not claiming earlier you may request a backdate of benefit. Housing and Council Tax Benefit can be backdated for up to 52 weeks if you show that you have had continuous good cause throughout the period, up to the date you make your claim.

There is a section on the application form which you can complete to request a backdate or you can write a separate letter. If you request a backdate you must fully explain your reasons and you may be required to provide evidence to support your request.

What happens if my circumstances change?

If you are in receipt of Housing and/or Council Tax Benefit you must notify the Housing Benefit section immediately, in writing of any changes which may affect your entitlement.

Examples of changes in circumstances:

1. If you move

2. If someone in your household, including you and your partner, starts or ceases to receive Income Support/Job Seekers Allowance or Pension Credit

3. If someone moves in or leaves your household

4. If the income of anyone in the household changes in any way, including wage increases and pension increases

5. If the circumstances of someone in the household changes, e.g. starts work, leaves school, ceases apprenticeship, gets married etc

6. If any rent you receive from a sub tenant or lodger increases or decreases

This list does not cover every change. You must report every change that may affect your Housing and/or Council Tax Benefit, if you do not know if a change will affect your entitlement, contact this office. It is important that you notify us immediately of any change as you may loose out on extra benefit or any overpayment may be recovered from you. It is an offence not to report a change in circumstances in a timely manner.