Claiming benefits

If you have a general query about claiming Housing Benefit/Local Housing Allowance and Council Tax Benefit and the web pages below do not cover it, please use the online general query form.

If you require information about:

• Claiming Jobseekers Allowance, Income Support, Employment and Support Allowance (previously known as Incapacity Benefit) please visit Jobcentre Plus
• Claiming Pension Credit please visit The Pension Service
• Claiming Disability Benefits please visit Direct Gov
• Claiming Tax Credits please visit HMRC 
• Searching for a job please visit Jobcentre Plus or visit our Jobs and Careers section
• General information about Welfare Benefits and Grants and the upcoming changes to the Welfare system please visit Turn2us

Housing Benefit/Local Housing Allowance and Council Tax Benefit are administered by the Benefits Section within the Revenues and Benefits department. In order to promote a fair standard of practise the department has developed a Pledge.

To view the pledge and all other leaflets on Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit please go to the Related Downloads. Alternatively you please go to the Related FAQ page for our Frequently Asked Questions on Housing Benefit.

Information about entitlement to Housing Benefit or Local Housing Allowance, Council Tax Benefit or Second Adult rebate.

Information on how to claim benefit or Local Housing Allowance, evidence requirements, information about what to do if you disagree with our decision on your claim and instructions about claiming a Discretionary Housing Payment if you are still struggling to meet your rental costs or council tax.

Information on when and how you will be paid your benefit or Local Housing Allowance as well as information on how to open a bank account

Information on what is classed as a change in circumstance.

If you get too much benefit it is classed as an overpayment. An overpayment of benefit happens when you are paid benefit to which you are not entitled.