Need help paying your rent?
Housing Benefit
Housing benefit is paid by your local council to people on a low income to cover or contribute towards the cost of rent.
Who is eligible?
You can claim housing benefit if you are on a low income and you are renting a property from the council, a housing association like East Thames, or a private landlord. You don’t have to be unemployed to apply for housing benefits, although you may not be eligible if you have savings of more than £16,000.
Housing benefit cannot be used to pay mortgages, so if you’re an East Thames shared owner, you may be able to claim housing benefits for the rent payments, but not the mortgage payments. However help for homeowners struggling to pay interest payments may be available through income support.
How can I claim?
Housing benefits claims are decided by the benefit office at your local council. To make a claim you need to complete and sign a claim form and return this to the benefit office. Make sure you are given a receipt as confirmation of your application.
Can I make a back dated claim?
It is possible to organise backdated benefits payments by contacting your local housing benefit office. You will be asked to put your claim in writing, explaining why you were unable to claim earlier, for instance if you were ill and therefore unable to make a claim or if you were unaware you could claim housing benefits . Your claim can be back-dated for a maximum of six months.
What happens if my circumstances change?
A change in your or your household's circumstances will often affect the amount of benefit you can claim. You must tell your housing benefit office about any change in your circumstances within one month of the change happening. If you do not tell them, you could receive the wrong amount of housing benefit, which could result in you needing to pay back money received.
How can I get help to make a housing benefit claim?
If you can’t get to the housing benefit office because you are ill or disabled, your council may be able to arrange a welfare visit instead. The benefits officer can visit you at home to help you fill in your claim forms and collect the information and evidence needed to work out how much money you should get.
At East Thames we also offer a benefits advice service. Our benefit advisors can provide confidential advice and help making sure you’re claiming the benefits you’re entitled to. You can request a home visit or ask for advice over the phone.
Contact benefit advisor, Uyi Abosede on 0208 536 8803 or email welfare.benefits@east-thames.co.uk.
Reviews
Once you start to receiving housing benefit, the benefits office may arrange to visit you at home for a review. At the review the benefits officer will check that you are receiving the right amount of money and that they have the right information about you and your family's circumstances. The benefits officer will contact you before the visit to arrange a suitable time and to let you know what information you need to have ready. In most cases, if you have been paid too much housing benefit, you will have to pay this money back.
Discretionary Housing Payments
If you already receive housing benefit but still struggle to pay your rent, you may be eligible for discretionary housing payments from your local council.
Who is eligible?
You can apply for discretionary housing payments if you are already receiving housing benefit, local housing allowance or council tax benefit. However, if your housing benefit or local housing allowance covers the full cost of your rent, you will not be eligible.
Your local council will decide how much money you receive and how long you receive the payment for.
How can I claim?
To make a claim for discretionary housing payments, contact your local council. You’ll need to ask for a discretionary housing payments (this is different from the housing benefits form).
For more information on housing benefits or discretionary housing payments, visit:
www.shelter.org.uk/
www.direct.gov.uk/
