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Can I Apply for Benefit?

Can I apply?

If you pay rent to a Private Landlord, Housing Association or to Oswestry Borough Council for your home, you may be entitled to Housing Benefit to help you pay your rent.

If you are liable to pay Council Tax, you may be entitled to Council Tax Benefit to help you pay your Council Tax.

You are not eligible for Housing and/or Council Tax Benefit if

• You have £16,000 savings, unless you are in receipt of the Guarantee element of Pension Credit
• You pay rent to a close relative whom you live with
• You are a person subject to immigration control
• You are a full time student

Full time students maybe intitled to benefit if they are 

• Responsible for a child
• Disabled
• Under 19 and not in higher education
• Over 60
• In receipt of Income Support
• In receipt of Job Seeker's Allowance

If you are liable to pay Council Tax you may also be entitled to 'Alternative Maximum Council Tax Benefit', which is known as 'Second Adult Rebate'.  If you have a 'second adult' on a low income living in your home, who is not your partner or a lodger/tenant, you may qualify for Second Adult Rebate.

Second Adult Rebate

Second Adult Rebate can be awarded when you have a second adult living in your home who receives Income Support or Income Based Job Seeker's Allowance or has a low income. The second adult can not be your partner, a lodger or sub tenant. A 'second adult' may be an adult son or daughter, a relative or a friend who does not pay you rent on a commercial basis. 

There may be more than one 'second adult' living in your home and you may still qualify for Second Adult Rebate if both (or all) have a low income. 

If you have a partner and have another adult living with you, you may still qualify for Second Adult Rebate if you or your partner is disregarded for Council Tax purposes. 

Unlike Council Tax Benefit if you have savings over £16,000 you can still make an application for Second Adult Rebate.

If you apply for Council Tax Benefit, a calculation for Second Adult Rebate will be carried out at the same time.

You can not receive Council Tax Benefit and Second Adult Rebate for the same period.  When calculating Benefit entitlement a 'better buy' calculation is carried out and if you are entitled to both you will be awarded whichever one is the highest.

If you qualify for Second Adult Rebate, you may be entitled to a rebate of up to 25% of your Council Tax liability.

Back to Housing and Council Tax Benefits Homepage