Getting Help
Who can claim Housing Benefit?
- Anyone who has to pay rent for their home can claim.
- If your landlord is the Council, a housing association, a
private individual or company, you can still claim.
- Boarders, lodgers, and people in hostels and bed &
breakfast accommodation can also claim.
- You do not have to be out of work to claim.
However, you will not normally receive Housing
Benefit if you are living with a close relative and paying them
rent.
We can not help you pay a mortgage; you will need to contact the
Department for Work and
Pensions if you require this help.
Who is unable to apply for help?
You can’t claim Housing Benefit if you:
- Are not the householder
- Have more than £16,000 in capital (unless you receive
guaranteed pension credit)
- Are excluded from receiving public funds, due to your status in
the UK
- Are a full-time student – unless you are also one of the
following:
- a lone parent
- a disabled person
- under 19 years-old and following a further education
course
- aged 60 or more
Awarding discretionary housing payments
From 2 July 2001, a new scheme is being introduced which grants
all Local Authorities new powers for discretionary payments to top
up the Housing and Council Tax benefits statutory schemes.
How much Housing Benefit will I get?
Help with your rent
Before you check the guide please do the following:
- Work out how much savings or capital you have. Don't include
the value of your home as this doesn't count. If you have more than
£16,000 in savings you can't get Housing Benefit.
- Work out how much money you have coming in each week. Ignore
tax, and national insurance, attendance allowance, disability
living allowance, mobility allowance and war pensions. If you are
working, ignore £5 if you are single, £10 for a couple and £25 for
a lone parent.
- Work out how much rent you pay every week.
If you have other adults in your household you may get less
Housing and Council Tax benefit because of a non-dependant deduction. The non-dependant
deduction depends on the income of the other adults and is taken
off the maximum benefit before we decide how much help we can give
you with the rest.
If you are a private tenant and your rent is high, or if you are
a single person under 35 you may not get all your rent paid.
Contact
Tel: 01304 872199
Email: revenues@dover.gov.uk
