Benefits

The council is responsible for the payment of housing and council tax benefits.

Housing benefit is a scheme to help people who are on a low income, or receiving pension credit, income support, job seekers allowance or employment and support allowance, to pay their rent to a housing association or to a private landlord.

Council tax benefit can also help the same people with their council tax bills.

The amount of benefit you can get depends on:

• How much income you and your partner have coming in
  
• The amount of capital you have
  
• The amount of money the government says you need to live on
  
• Deductions we may make for other people living in your home (these are called non-dependants)
  
• The amount of rent/council tax you pay
  
• Deductions for items included in the rent, which do not count for benefits

If you own your own home we are unable to help with any mortgage payment you have to pay but the Department for Work and Pensions should be able to help you.

The information provided on this website is for guidance only. It does not cover all the rules for all the benefits for every situation, nor does it provide a full interpretation of the rules. It should not be treated as a complete and authoritative statement of law.