What is Housing and Council Tax Benefit?

Housing Benefit is a means-tested benefit, paid to people who qualify for help with their rent.

Anyone who is liable to pay rent and is resident in the property can claim Housing Benefit.

You cannot claim Housing Benefit if:

• you own the property where you live;
• you pay rent to a close relative who lives in the same house;
• you or your partner have more than £16,000 in savings, unless you are in receipt of Pension Credit Guaranteed Credit or Income Support.

Council Tax Benefit
Anyone who is liable to pay Council Tax in the Telford and Wrekin area can make a claim for Council Tax Benefit.

Council Tax Benefit is a means-tested benefit, paid to people who qualify for help with their Council Tax charge.

Anyone who is liable for Council Tax and is considered to be resident in the property can claim Council Tax Benefit.

You cannot claim Council Tax benefit if you or your partner have more than £16,000 in savings, unless you are in receipt of Pension Credit Guaranteed Credit or Income Support.

Second Adult Rebate
Second Adult Rebate is another way you can get help to pay less Council Tax. It is not based on the money you have, but on the money other people who live with you have.

You may be able to get Second Adult Rebate if there are other people living in your home who are on a low income or on Income Support.

In order to be classed as a "second adult" the other person, known as a non-dependant, must not be:

• liable to pay Council Tax at the property;
• a joint owner or tenant with you;
• your married or unmarried partner; or
• living with more than one person who is liable for Council Tax.

The maximum amount that can be awarded is 25% of the Council Tax bill. Entitlement may be assessed as 25%, 15% or 7.5%, depending on the circumstances of the second adult.

General Information
Anyone liable to pay rent and/or Council Tax and receiving Income Support, Income Based Job Seekers Allowance or Pension Credit Guarantee Credit, should make an application for benefit. You will normally make your claim at your local Job Centre Plus Office or via the Pension Service.

Anyone else who has a low income or who feels that their personal circumstances are such that they may be entitled to help should make a claim for benefit.

Entitlement to these benefits will be based upon your rent and Council Tax charge, your personal income and circumstances and the circumstances of anyone else in your household.

When you complete an application form, you must ensure that you answer every question on the form and provide all of the evidence required to support your claim. Failure to do so may delay the payment of any benefit that you are entitled to.

All documents that are required to support your claim must be original documents. Photocopies and faxes are not acceptable. Further information about the documents required with a claim, is contained in the benefit application form.

Click Here to download a copy of the Application for Second Adult Rebate Form (pdf)

If you want to know if you may qualify for benefit, or have a query regarding a current claim please telephone our Contact Centre on 01952 383838, or visit us at the Civic Offices, Telford Town Centre.