Housing Benefit is designed to help you with your rent, if you have a low income. The amount of help you receive also depends on your personal circumstances.
If you apply for Housing Benefit you will automatically be considered for Council Tax Benefit as well.
Who can claim?
You may be eligible for Housing Benefit if you:
- pay rent to a private landlord, a Housing Association, such as Tor Homes, or if you occupy your home under a shared ownership scheme
- have savings of less than £16,000 (unless you are a pensioner on Pension Guarantee Credit)
If you are the tenant of a private landlord you will be eligible for a type of Housing Benefit known as Local Housing Allowance (LHA). This differs from Housing Benefit in using a different way of working out the amount of rent to be used in the calculation, but the way we count your income is the same.
If you are a private tenant go to Local Housing Allowance.
How does it work?
We compare your ‘income’ against your ‘needs’ – using figures provided by the government. If you have a partner your income and needs will be considered jointly.
- To work out your income, we add together your earnings and any unearned income you have – although we don’t count some amounts, we ‘disregard’ them. We include a figure based on any savings you may have - but your home does not count as savings.
- Your needs are based on the size and circumstances of your family.
- The Benefit may be reduced if any non-dependants live with you.
- The figure for rent we have to use may not necessarily be the actual amount of rent your landlord charges you.
Do I qualify?
To find out if you’re likely to get some help go to benefits calculator, or ring us on 01803 861158
How to claim
There are no long forms to fill in - just telephone 01803 861158 and we will ask you a few questions to find out if you’re likely to qualify. If you are, we will make an appointment to visit you at a time convenient to you. We will also explain what information we need and the documents we will need to see. Once we have all the information, we aim to tell you within 5 days how much help you should get.
If you claim Housing Benefit you will also automatically be considered for Council Tax Benefit which could reduce your Council Tax bill.
When to claim
If you think you may qualify, you should apply as soon as possible because Benefit is normally paid from the Monday following the date you contact us. But under some exceptional circumstances we may be able to backdate your claim.
How payment will be made
Payment will usually be made either two weekly or four weekly in arrears, and will be paid directly to your landlord, if you are a Housing Association tenant. Although it can be paid into your bank/building society account if you prefer.
DHP - Discretionary Housing Payments
If you get some housing benefit or council tax benefit, but are having difficulty paying the rest of your rent or council tax yourself, you may be able to get a discretionary housing payment.
If your circumstances change
If your claim is successful, you must tell us if there is a change of circumstances in either your personal or financial life which might affect your claim. Failure to do so could result in a prosecution for fraud or losing your benefit.
Preventing fraud
We have a fraud-line where you can anonymously give information about any fraudulent claimant - we will fully investigate every report we receive. If you suspect someone's committing benefit fraud - call our 24 hour Benefit Fraud Line on (01803) 861282.
Appeals
If you want to know more about a decision regarding your benefit entitlement, or if you think it is wrong, you should contact us as soon as possible.
If there is anything you are unclear about, we can provide you with an explanation. If you disagree with a decision you can ask us to look at it again. If we cannot change the decision we will tell you why.
If you still disagree, you have one month to appeal, from the date of the new decision.
Benefit changes
See our Housing Benefit Changes page.
Further information
How to contact us |
We are open during the following times except for public holidays and certain days over Christmas (details will be available on the Council’s website during December) Phone us: phone lines open 8:30 - 5:00, Monday to Friday.
To make a new benefit claim: 01803 861158.
To report benefit fraud: 01803 861381.
Other benefit or council enquiries: 01803 861234. Email us: customer.services@southhams.gov.uk
Please note, if you email us we will acknowledge receipt of your email, but we will not deal with your request by email if it involves disclosing any personal information. We will either telephone or write to you. Write to us: SHDC, Follaton House, Plymouth Road, TOTNES, TQ9 5NE. Fax us: 01803 866151. Visit us at: Follaton House, Plymouth Road, Totnes, TQ9 5NE.
Office opening hours 8:30 - 5:00, Monday to Friday. |
