Housing Benefit

 

Housing Benefit is money to help people on low incomes pay their Rent. Housing Benefit is governed by The Housing Benefit (General) Regulations 1987. This page will tell you what you need to know about applying for Housing Benefit.

 

Benefits Service Delivery Plan 2005 to 2008

  

Who can claim?

 

Any tenant can make a claim for Housing Benefit if they rent accommodation from any of the following: 

  • Housing Co-op
  • Housing Association 
  • Private Landlord or Factor

For Private Tenants claiming Housing Benefit after 6th April, 2008 please see here for details of Local Housing Allowance.

 

 

Local Housing Allowance

 

Local Housing Allowance will come into effect on 7th April, 2008

 

Local Housing Allowance is for private tenants on a low income.  By 'private tenant' we mean someone who rents property or a room from a private landlord.

 

Local Housing Allowance does not apply if:

  • your landlord is a housing association
  • your tenancy started before 1989
  • you live in a caravan
  • you live somewhere where you are provided with care, support, meals or supervision

 

If you rent from a housing association please follow the 'housing benefit information' link to find out about your housing benefits.

 

How to claim
 

All claims for Housing Benefit must be made by completing an application form. Please contact us for a form.

 

In certain circumstances, we may backdate your claim for Housing Benefit to a date before you made your claim.

 

 

What we need to process a claim

 

All applications for Housing Benefit must be supported with:

  • claimant (and partner’s) National Insurance Number
  • proof of identity
  • evidence of all income
  • amount of rent paid

If supporting evidence is not provided you may lose your Benefit.

 

 

How we work it out

 

The amount of Housing Benefit you will receive depends on:

 

  • how much rent you pay
  • your (and your partner’s) weekly income
  • any savings or investments you (and your partner) have
  • your age and the age of any member of your family who lives with you and
  • whether anyone else (such as a lodger) lives with you

If you don't agree with us you can appeal our decision.

 

 

How it is paid

 

Housing Benefit is paid monthly. 

 

If you are a Private tenant (including Housing Association) then you may request that we pay your Housing Benefit direct to your Landlord or directly to you by girocheque or to your bank account.

 

 

Keeping your claim up-to-date 

 

When an application is made for Housing Benefit, a declaration is signed which confirms that you will tell us of any change in your circumstances which may affect your claim.

 

 

It is important that you advise of any changes immediately to ensure that the correct amount of Housing Benefit is awarded. If you don't, it may result in an overpayment.

 

 

Review of claims

 

When your claim for Housing Benefit is determined, a fixed Benefit Period will be set of up to 60 weeks. Before the end of this time, we will send you a review application form. You must complete this form and return it to us with all relevant information.

 

 

If you do not return this form to us, we will stop your Housing Benefit. 

  

 

Discretionary Housing Payment Fund

 

If you are receiving Housing Benefit but are still having difficulty meeting your Rent payments, you may be able to get extra help from the Discretionary Housing Payment Fund.

 

 

Additional Information

 

General information on all aspects of Housing Benefit is available in different languages and braille format from http://www.benefit-leaflets.org/ Leaflets are available via download.

Glasgow City Council do not accept any responsibility for information contained within any external websites.

 

If you require further information about Housing Benefit please contact us.