From November 2009, Child Benefit is longer be counted as income when an assessment is made for Housing and Council Tax Benefit. This means there is a significant increase in the number of people who qualify for these benefits.
Many families who have claimed Housing and Council Tax Benefit and were not entitled in the past, are now able to receive extra financial help towards their rent and Council Tax charges. This gives greater financial support to families throughout the Borough, by increasing their income
As a guideline, a couple taking home £450 a week in, say, earnings, tax credits and other benefits, with two children and who pay rent of around £135 a week (£585 a month) would qualify for some help towards their rent. A couple with the same weekly income, with three children, who own their home and pay council tax of around £25 a week (£110 a month) would also qualify for some help. In both cases, if their weekly income was lower, the rent or council tax higher or if they had more children, they would qualify for even more help.
So, are you one of these families? Have you recently claimed Housing or Council Tax Benefit but narrowly missed out because your income was too high? Perhaps you or your partner have recently lost your job and haven’t thought about help towards your rent or council tax. Or, perhaps you are a family with young children and you have not made a claim for Housing or Council Tax Benefit because you didn’t think you would qualify.
Contact the Benefit Section today for a claim form. You can either phone on 023 92446 382/383 or visit the counter between 9.00 – 5.00 Monday to Friday. Alternatively you could email us at benefit@havant.gov.uk