Housing Benefit
Information about housing benefit and how to apply for it.
What is housing benefit?
Housing benefit is a welfare benefit and is a contribution towards housing costs. It is NOT a payment of rent. It is to help people who are living in rented accommodation pay their rent or board and lodging charge. Housing benefit is paid by the council.
Who can claim housing benefit?
You can claim housing benefit if you are living in accommodation rented from the council or from a private landlord and you are in receipt of income support, jobseeker's allowance (income based), or on a low income.
Who can't claim housing benefit?
You are not eligible for housing benefit if any of the following apply:
- You have capital or assets with a value of more than £16,000. (However you can still claim if you are in receipt of Guaranteed Pension Credit).
- You are living with a close relative and you share accommodation which includes cooking facilities
- The arrangement you have to pay rent is not a commercial one
This is NOT an exhaustive list.
How to claim housing benefit
If you think that you are entitled to housing benefit you should obtain an application form from us (see below) and return it, completed, with all relevant documentation to Lancaster Town Hall. If you are in receipt of income support or jobseeker's allowance (income based) you will be given a form by the Department for Works & Pensions (DWP) to claim for this benefit. The form must be completed and returned to them and they will forward it to the council with confirmation that you are in receipt of income support or jobseeker's allowance (income based).
YOU CANNOT RECEIVE HOUSING BENEFIT IF YOU HAVE NOT COMPLETED AN APPLICATION FORM.
- Download an application form and guidance notes from the right hand Quick Links menu.
- If you want us to send you an application form contact:
The Benefits Section
Revenue Services
P O Box 4
Lancaster
LA1 1QR
Either in writing or in person, or alternatively telephone or email us (details as below).
When is housing benefit awarded from?
If you qualify for housing benefit it will normally be awarded from the Monday following the date you first contact the Council for an application form. This form must be returned to the Council within one month of the date it is issued. If you are in receipt of income support or jobseekers allowance (income based) and you make a claim for housing benefit within one month of the date you claim either benefit, you will be awarded housing benefit from the Monday following the date your income support or jobseeker's allowance (income based) entitlement commenced.
Can a claim be backdated?
Yes, providing that you can show that you have good reason for not claiming earlier. If you wish to claim backdated benefit, you must state your reasons on the application form or enclose a covering letter.
How much housing benefit will I receive?
The amount of benefit you will receive depends on:
Your income (joint income if you have a partner)
AND
Your personal circumstances, eg whether you have a partner or dependant children
AND
The income and circumstances of anyone who lives with you and who is not dependant on you
AND
The amount of rent that you pay.
Housing benefit for people living in privately rented accommodation will be based on rental figures supplied by the Rent Service (click here to learn more about the Rent Service). This means that your rent may not be met in full if it is considered to be high. Also, if you are living in accommodation that is larger than you need, housing benefit will be based on the rental value of accommodation of a more appropriate size.
If you are in receipt of income support or jobseeker's allowance (income based) you will receive maximum benefit (this may not be equal to the actual rent that you pay if the rent is considered high). Deductions for anyone who lives with you and who is not dependant on you may be made from your maximum entitlement.
Single persons under the age of 25 - privately rented sector only
Housing benefit for single persons under the age of 25 will be based on the average cost of renting a single room with shared use of a living room, toilet and bathroom, and kitchen facilities.
Service charges
If you are provided with any services by your landlord, e.g. meals, water rates, heating, lighting, hot water, support, personal or nursing care and you do not pay for them separately to your rent, an amount will be deducted from your housing benefit entitlement. This is because housing benefit cannot be paid for services that are provided to you and they should be paid by you. However, housing benefit can be paid for communal service charges, eg. lighting and heating of communal areas.
How is housing benefit paid?
If you are a council tenant, any housing benefit you are entitled to will be transferred to your rent account.
If you are a private tenant, housing benefit will be paid by BACS into your bank or building society account (click here to learn more about payments by BACS). To avoid delays in paying your housing benefit please complete your account details on your claim form. If you change your bank account in the future you will need to complete a new BACS form (click here to download a new form). If you experience any difficulties please contact the Council for further advice on telephone number 01524 582965. You may wish to have your housing benefit paid direct to your landlord. There is a special section for this on the application form. However, it is at the council's discretion whether to allow payments to be made to your landlord. If you are in arrears of rent equivalent to 8 weeks or more then the council will send your payments direct to your landlord whether or not you have given your consent.
What can I do if I think the decision about my housing benefit is wrong?
If you have received a decision about housing benefit and you think the decision is wrong, you can ask us to explain it or request a written statement of reasons. If you still think it is wrong after we have explained it to you, we will look at the decision again. For some decisions, you can appeal to an independent tribunal who can change the decision if they agree that it is wrong.
If you want us to look at the decision again or if you want to appeal against it, you must do so within one calendar month of the date on the decision letter. A detailed booklet on the dispute process is available on request from the Benefits Team.
Change of circumstances
Once you have claimed housing benefit you are under a duty to inform the Benefits Team within one calendar month of any changes in your income and circumstances and the income and circumstances of anyone else who lives with you (click here to download a change of circumstances form). If you move to a new address you must inform the council immediately. You may need to make a fresh claim for housing benefit.
If you are a private tenant and change your bank account you will need to complete a new BACS (click here to download a BACS form).
You may lose any increase in benefit that may be due to you if you do not tell us about changes of circumstance quickly.