Apply for Council Tax Reduction and/or Housing Benefit

What is Housing Benefit?

Housing Benefit is a means-tested social security benefit in the United Kingdom that is intended to help meet housing costs for rented accommodation.

You can claim housing benefit if:

• you have reached State Pension age, or

• you’re in supported housing agreed by the local authority, or
• you have been placed in temporary housing by the local authority.

You can apply for Housing Benefit through the ‘Do it Online’ page on our website and click on your council logo and choose the ‘Apply for Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Reduction’ option.

If you do not meet any of these conditions, you will need to apply for Universal Credit for help with your housing costs.

More information about Housing Benefit is available.

What is Council Tax Reduction?

Council Tax Reduction (CTR) is sometimes called Council Tax Support and provides help for people on a low income. Rather than receiving money direct, you will receive a discount on your bill.

You can claim Council Tax Reduction if:

• you are on a low income, and
• are working age with less than £10,000 in savings or capital (such as property), or
• are pension age with less than£16,000 in savings or capital (such as property)

You can apply for Council Tax Reduction through the ‘Do it Online’ page on our website and click on the council logo and choose the ‘Apply for Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Reduction’ option.

Please note:  If you have claimed Council Tax Reduction (CTR) before and you remain entitled to continuous Universal Credit and now have a change of circumstances which means you may qualify for CTR again, you should notify us using our ‘Rapid reclaim Council Tax Reduction’. You can access this form from our ‘Do it Online’ page on our website.

Further information about Council Tax Reduction is available.