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I am on Income Support/Income Based Job Seekers Allowance - Do I still need to make a claim for housing and council tax benefit to the Council?

The fact that you are in receipt of one of these benefits does not give an automatic entitlement to housing and council tax and a claim must always be submitted to the Council. When claiming Income Support or income based Job Seekers Allowance a housing and council tax benefit application form (called an HCTB1 form or Local Authority Input Document) is provided by the Department for Work and Pensions and should be completed and returned to them. They will pass that form to the Council but you are advised to check that the Council has received it.
Receipt of form HCTB1 or Local Authority Input Document, along with confirmation of entitlement to Income Support or income based Job Seekers Allowance, will usually, but not always, allow the Council to award housing benefit or council tax benefit without carrying out any further enquiries into your household or income. However, further information may be required (such as rent details) and you may be asked to provide this information by completing the Council's own housing and council tax benefit claim form.

Related Pages (9)

  • Housing benefit - backdating claims

    This page gives information on whether housing benefit and council tax benefit can be backdated to a date earlier than when you submitted your benefit application form.

  • Benefit legislation changes

    This page will provide details of the recent legislation changes to housing and council tax benefit.

  • Benefit Entitlement Calculators

    This page contains links to web sites which will enable you to calculate whether you are entitled to any council tax, business rates and housing benefits or tax credits.

  • Discretionary Housing Payment

    Discretionary Housing Payment is extra help towards rent and council tax where you have a shortfall between what you pay out in rent and council tax and what you receive in housing benefit and council tax benefit.

  • Help and Advice with Housing and Council Tax benefit

    Contact details for organisations giving help and advice on a range of benefits, including our helpline service for our residents offering advice on all types of benefits, not just those administered by us.

  • Information required to claim housing and council tax benefit

    This page deals with what information is required in order to assess a claim for housing and council tax benefit.

  • Landlords and Agents

    This page gives advice for Landlords and Agents with tenants who are claiming Housing Benefit. It also provides a leaflet to be downloaded with additional information.

  • Local Housing Allowance Rates

    This page gives the weekly the Local Housing Allowance rates for the current month and the previous month. These rates will be used when calculating your housing benefit.

  • Council Tax General

    This is the home page of the council tax section. This page contains details about council tax and has links to forms and useful information

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