HOUSING BENEFIT

Housing Benefit is to help cover the cost of rent that you pay to a landlord. You can claim from 16 onwards.

You do not need your landlord’s permission to apply for Housing Benefit, and they do not have to know that you are applying for it or receiving it, as long as you have proof of how much you are paying and what it is for. This would usually be provided by your tenancy agreement and/or rent book. If you are struggling to pay your rent whilst you wait for your claim to be worked out, you may need to let the landlord know why there is a delay. However you should not be kicked out for this. If this happens, get advice.

You cannot get Housing Benefit if you are paying rent to your mother, father, brother or sister, in-laws or step relations, for living with them, (but you may if you are paying them rent for another property they own).

If you make a claim for Income Support or JSA you should be given claim forms for Housing Benefit at the same time. Otherwise you can get the forms from the Council's Housing Benefit Office or Community Services in Acomb. If you need help with your claim, you can now talk to the same HB Officer each time - see here about young people's reps.

You can claim if you are working and on a low income, or unemployed, or sick or disabled. You can claim if you are studying part time. If you are in full time education, you can usually only claim in limited circumstances - get advice.

If you are on Income Support or income based JSA (or your income is no higher that those levels) then you could get up to 100% of your rent paid. Above those levels your Housing Benefit will be reduced by 65 pence for every £1 that your income rises.

If you are under 25, single and childless, then Housing Benefit will only cover the cost of a single room in a shared house, or bedsit. This will affect you if you are living on your own in a flat. If you have ever been in care, even for one night, the single room rent restriction may not apply to you, so get advice.

You won't get any benefit to cover the cost of meals, water, gas or electricity. If these are included in the rent, you will have to pay these yourself and an amount will be taken off your Housing Benefit - eg. if you are living by yourself in one room in a shared house this amount is currently £9.25 a week.

Your Housing Benefit will be restricted in any case if you are living somewhere that the Council considers to be too expensive. A Rent Officer will normally come round and inspect where you are living - but see 'Local Housing Allowance' below.

If your rent is restricted and it is causing you hardship you may be able to get discretionary 'hardship payments' from Housing Benefit.

If you need to know how much Housing Benefit you should get before you take on a tenancy, ask the Council for a ‘Pre-tenancy Determination’. It takes about a week to be worked out. You will need the landlord's agreement. These will no longer exist after April '08.

Housing Benefit is paid in arrears, every week. It can be paid to you or direct to the landlord. If you need an urgent payment straight away ask at Housing Benefit Office if this is possible.

Local Housing Allowance 

From April ‘08, any new claim for Housing Benefit will be calculated using the new Local Housing Allowance (LHA). This means that if you rent from a private landlord, the rent officer will no longer come round to look at your property, and the LHA figures will be set locally for different types of accommodation; e.g. a room in a shared house, a two bedroom property etc. This will set the maximum amount of Housing Benefit as the LHA for a property of a size that suits your needs. If your rent is less that the LHA you could still get this amount (assuming you are entitled to it) up to a maximum of £15 pw above your eligable rent. 

The figures for LHA will be published, so you’ll get a better idea of how much Housing Benefit you will get. If you have a claim running from before April ‘08, it will not be affected unless you move or there is a break in your claim.

COUNCIL TAX BENEFIT

Council Tax is a tax on houses and flats. Everyone over 18 who is a home owner or tenant has to pay it apart from people who live in a house with 'multiple occupation' (i.e. a shared house) in which case it is paid by the landlord. If you are not sure who should be paying it in your house, get advice from the Councils Benefits Enquiry Line, CAB or Castlegate. If you live by yourself you can apply for a 25% reduction.

If you are a part-time student you can claim Council Tax Benefit. If you are a full time student you can only claim it if you are in a qualifying group - seek advice, as the rules are complicated. If you are over 18 and on Income Support or income based JSA you should also be able to get Council Tax Benefit - usually 100%. If you live in accommodation where all the residents are students you may all be exempt from Council Tax.

If you've applied for Housing Benefit this covers Council Tax Benefit as well. Otherwise phone the Council and ask for Council Tax Benefits.