Slough Borough Council: Housing and Council Tax Benefit

Housing and Council Tax Benefit - New Claim

This section tells you how you can get help with paying your rent and council tax through the housing benefit and council tax benefit schemes.

We have to operate within the laws and guidelines laid down for these benefits by central government. These are sometimes very complicated.

These pages tell you only the basic rules.

If you need any further information or wish to discuss your specific circumstances, please contact the benefits helpline on 01753 875348/9 or visit the Customer Service Centre.

What is housing benefit?

Housing benefit helps you pay your rent if you are on a low income. Your local council pays housing benefit and you do not have to get any other benefits to claim it.

If you pay rent to the council the benefit is called a rent rebate. Any benefit you are entitled to will be paid directly into your rent account and you will have a reduced amount to pay each week.

If you pay rent to a private landlord or a housing association the benefit is called a rent allowance. The benefit will be sent either to you or directly to your landlord. We cannot help you pay a mortgage: you will need to contact the Department for Work and Pensions if you need help with this.

Housing benefit claim on or after 7 April 2008

If you make a new claim for Housing Benefit on or after 7 April 2008, any entitlement to benefit will be worked out using the Local Housing Allowance rates.

These changes only affect tenants who rent their home from a private landlord.

If you are already getting Housing Benefit on 7 April 2008, you will not be affected by these changes unless:

you move address to a home rented from a private landlord – you must tell us if you change address
you have a break in your claim – if you stop claiming Housing Benefit for any reason (for example moving into work) any new claim for benefit will be worked out using the Local Housing Allowance rates

More information is available below regarding the Local Housing Allowance (LHA).

What is council tax benefit?

Council tax benefit can be claimed by people who are liable to pay council tax. It can help you pay your council tax if you are on a low income. It cannot help with water charges. Also it cannot help you pay a mortgage: you will need to contact the Department for Work and Pensions if you need help with this.

There are two types of council tax benefit. Both have to be claimed by the person who is responsible for paying the bill. Any benefit you are due will be paid directly into your council tax account and you will receive a reduced bill.

The first type of council tax benefit is called main council tax benefit. It is subject to rules similar to housing benefit. How much you can get depends on your income and circumstances.

The second type of council tax benefit is called second adult rebate. This is for single people who have to pay council tax and who have other adults on a low income living in the household. It can be claimed by anyone who does not have a partner, but only if they do not qualify for the council tax single person discount and they share their home with another person, who is aged 18 or older, is on a low income, and does not pay them rent. The second adult rebate is worked out on the incomes and circumstances of the other adults living with you.

You cannot receive main council tax benefit and second adult rebate at the same time. When you claim council tax benefit we will always calculate if you would be better off receiving second adult rebate and pay you whichever of the two benefits is higher.

To apply for housing benefit or council tax benefit you will need to download, fill in and sign the 'Claim Form for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit'. You can return it either by post to the Benefits Service, PO Box 1032, Slough, SL1 3UT or hand it in to the Customer Service Centre.