Housing Benefit

Who can claim Housing Benefit

People on low incomes can get Housing Benefit to help towards their rent.

You could:

• Be single or have a partner.
• Have children or live alone.
• Be working, unemployed or retired.
• Get help whether or not you are receiving a state benefit such as Income Support, Employment Support Allowance, Tax Credits, Jobseeker’s Allowance or Pension Credit.

You can claim Housing Benefit if you rent from the Council, a Housing Association or a private landlord. But you cannot usually get Housing Benefit if you live with or rent your home from a close relative. You cannot get Housing Benefit if you own your home or to help with mortgage payments.

The amount of benefit you will receive depends on who lives with you, the amount of money you have coming in and the savings you have. Your (and your partner’s) income and savings are compared to the amount the Government says someone in your circumstances needs to live on. The greater your income and savings, the less help you will get with your rent.

If you get Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance (income-based), Employment and Support Allowance (income related) or Guarantee Pension Credit, your Housing Benefit may cover all your rent. But you may get less benefit if you have other people living with you, such as grown up children.

If you have savings:

• Over £16,000 you will not qualify for help unless you also get Guarantee Pension Credit.

Working age:

• Over £6,000 but less than £16,000 the amount of help you can get will be reduced.
• Less than £6,000 they will not affect your claim.

Pension Age:

• Over £10,000 but less than £16,000 the amount of help you can get will be reduced.
• Less than £10,000 they will not affect your claim.

Renting from the Council or a Housing Association

Housing Benefit for Council and Housing Association tenants is calculated using the amount of rent charged (not including ineligible services). If you are a council tenant we will pay your benefits to your rent account. If you are a Housing Association tenant you can have your benefits paid either to you or your landlord.

Renting from a private landlord

Local Housing Allowance (LHA) is a new way of working out Housing Benefit. It is for people on a low income who rent from private landlords. It is based on the number of bedrooms you need and not how much the rent is.

The actual amount of LHA payable depends on your financial and personal circumstances in the same way as Housing Benefit. LHA affects anyone who lives in private rented accommodation and makes a new claim for Housing Benefit after 7 April 2008.

You can find out how to claim LHA and the latest rates on the Local Housing Allowance page.

How to claim Housing Benefit

You can get more information by:

• Telephoning us on 01293 438611
• Emailing us on benefits@crawley.gov.uk and remember to supply your telephone number.
• Clicking on the link Request for Benefit Claim Form.

To get a personal estimate of the amount of benefit you could get, click on the link on the right hand side of the page to the Benefits Calculator.

If you would like help to complete a claim form you can see someone at the town hall. Specialist members of the benefit team are able to answer enquiries Monday to Friday between 9am and 4.30pm. Home visits can be arranged for those unable to get to the office due to disability or infirmity. We also have staff that can help if English is not your first language.

Help us prevent fraud

Crawley Borough Council's successful anti fraud team now have a 24 hour freephone number so that residents can report in complete confidence any suspicions they may have that fraud is being committed.

The freephone number is 0800 634 0180 or click to send us the Benefit Fraud Reporting Form in total confidence..