How to claim Housing or Council Tax Benefit

Housing Benefit is help to pay the rent for  tenants on a low income.

Council Tax Benefit is help to pay Council Tax for both tenants and owner occupiers on a low income.

What do I have to do?

You need to complete a Housing and Council Tax Benefit application form. You can either:

• Request a form by telephone:
  Telephone (01902) 551166 and a form will be sent to you by post.
• Collect a form from one of our offices:
  All local housing offices and benefits reception points supply the form.
• Download a form:
  Click on the PDF icons below to download the form and application notes.

Filling out the form

Please read the application form notes, they will help you fill in the form correctly. You must sign and date the form.

If you are also claiming Income Support, Job Seekers Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance or Pension Credit the DWP may include a Housing and Council Tax Benefit claim form in the claim pack they send to you. You need to complete this form and return it to us.  

Help to complete  your form

If you have any questions or need help with filling out your form, contact Benefits.

Returning your form

Return the form quickly because we normally only pay you from the Monday after your claim is received.

It helps us to work out your benefit more quickly if you provide all the proof we need with your form

but don't hold onto your form just because you don't have all of the supporting evidence -  send this as soon as you can.

The completed form can be returned:

By post to

In person