Housing and council tax benefit - how to claim

 

Housing and council tax benefit - how to claim

Before an assessment for Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit or Second Adult Rebate can be carried out, an application form along with full supporting documentation must be submitted. 

You may only qualify for assistance with your rent or Council Tax or you may qualify for both.  This will depend on your circumstances however there is only one application form to complete.

Applying For Housing and/or Council Tax Benefit

The quickest and easiest method of applying for Housing and/or Council Tax Benefit is by following these simple steps:

1. Download the application form [PDF: 1Mb];
2. Complete the form in full;
3. Print off the form;
4. Sign the form;
5. Email us at HBenquiries@pkc.gov.uk to advise us that an application form is on its way.  Please tell us your name and address;
6. Submit to any of our offices.  With the required evidence.  For full office address visit our Contact Us page.

Alternatively you can contact us on 01738 476049 to request that we post an application form out to you.  You are however advised that this method is not the quickest and easiest way to apply for Housing and/or Council Tax Benefit.

Although the application form does ask a lot of questions, this is to make sure that you get the right benefit that you are entitled to.  If you require any assistance with the completion of the form, you should not hesitate to contact us. 

You cannot be awarded Housing and/or Council Tax Benefit until you start living in your property. 

How Soon Will My Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit or Second Adult Rebate Be Awarded?

By requesting an application form as soon as possible, this will allow us to issue a form to you sooner.  When you are completing the form, please refer carefully to the notes on the inside of the front page which offers guidance on how the form should be completed.  All boxes within the form must be completed and your application must be signed - if this is not done, this may cause delay in your application being determined.

It is important to remember that even once we receive your form, we cannot determine your entitlement unless full documentation to support your claim has been provided.  By providing us with all this documentation with your claim, this will dramatically speed up the process and allow us to issue you with a decision sooner.  In order for you to know exactly what evidence we require, please visit our section on Evidence Requirements.

Summary - Help Us to Determine Your Entitlement Sooner

• Request your application form as soon as possible.
• Ensure that your application form has been completed in full and signed. 
• Submit your completed form to one of our offices as soon as possible.
• Ensure that all original documentation to support your claim is provided at the outset.
• Respond promptly to any correspondence requesting further information, providing the specific information requested.

Once we have received all evidence and we have made a decision, we will notify you in writing advising you of your entitlement. 

Claiming Other State Benefits and Tax Credits

For further advice on how to claim other state benefits and tax credits, visit:  www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/index.htm

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This authority is under a duty to protect the public funds it administers, and to this end may use the information you have provided for the prevention and detection of fraud. It may also share this information with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds for these purposes. For further information see the section of this website explaining issues around Data Protection, or contact Perth & Kinross Council's Information Compliance Manager by phoning 01738 477930.