Who can claim these benefits?

You can claim Housing Benefit if you pay rent to a Housing Association or for a Council property, Local Housing Allowance if you pay rent to a private landlord and Council Tax Benefit if you pay council tax on your home. If you rent your home and you pay council tax, you can claim both benefits.
Your household includes your partner, your dependant children and any other people that live in your household.
A partner is someone you are married to, in a civil partnership with, or someone with whom you live with as though you are married or in a civil partnership.
People who are working full time, part time, are self-employed or retired can all claim Housing Benefit, Local Housing Allowance or Council Tax Benefit, as well as people who are unemployed or cannot work because of illness or because they are caring for someone.
Unless you are entitled to Guaranteed Pension Credit, savings and investments over £16,000, including your partner’s, will exclude you from receiving Housing Benefit, Local Housing Allowance and Council Tax Benefit. All savings and investments between £6,000 and £16,000 are taken into account in the calculation of entitlement.
You might be on a low income if you (or your partner, if you have one) receive
• A low wage for working full or part time or
• State benefits e.g. Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Pension Credit, Incapacity Benefit, Statutory Sick Pay, Maternity Pay or Retirement Pension
If you are unsure that you would be entitled to claim please contact Benefit Services on 023 80832031.

The Web Benefits Calculator

The Benefit Instant Calculator will calculate whether you are eligible for Housing and or Council Tax Benefit and the amount you could receive. Remember that the final calculation given will be based on the information you supply and should only be treated as a rough guide of entitlement to Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit.