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Can I Claim Housing and Council Tax Benefit?


WHO CAN CLAIM HOUSING AND COUNCIL TAX BENEFIT?

HOUSING BENEFIT

Anyone who pays rent for their home can claim Housing Benefit, but there are certain circumstances where people are not eligible for it or are not entitled to it, for example: -

  • People who own the home they are living in
  • People living in the same house as their landlord and the landlord is a close relative such as a parent, brother, sister, son or daughter
  • People who have owned the property within 5 years of making a claim
  • Couples who split up, then one remains in the property and rents it from the other
  • People with more than £16,000 in savings and investments, unless they are receiving the Guaranteed element of Pension Credit.

Most full-time students are not entitled to Housing Benefit unless they are:-

  • Lone parents
  • Disabled
  • Pensioners
  • In receipt of Income Support / Income Based Job Seekers Allowance
  • Or they have dependent children living with them

This is not a complete list and it is intended only as a guide.


COUNCIL TAX BENEFIT

Anyone can claim Council Tax Benefit, but in order to qualify they must be:-

  • The person in the household who is liable to pay the council tax for that property
  • Living in the property
  • Have less than £16,000 in savings and investments, unless they are receiving the Guaranteed element of Pension Credit.

This is not a complete list and it is intended only as a guide.

If you do not qualify for Council Tax Benefit you may qualify for “Second Adult Rebate” please click here for further information about this.

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