Council Tax Benefit New Claim
How we provide this service
Assessing entitlement to Council tax Benefit is supported by Finance, Benefits and Revenues.
Homeowners Can Get Council Tax Benefit Too
The council tax benefit scheme can reduce the bill by as much as 100% even for homeowners with no mortgage to pay. For someone who is struggling to make ends meet, if they have not already claimed this benefit, we would urge them to do so. If you are aged 60 or over, it can be claimed from the Pension Service (part of the DWP) alongside claiming Pension Credit which is intended to guarantee everyone aged 60 or over a weekly income of £130 (if they are single) and £198.45 (if they are a couple). In making these calculations, savings of below £6,000 are disregarded and for every £500 above this limit, £1 is added to the calculation of their weekly income.
Alternatively, anyone can claim council tax benefit direct from the Council. For people under 60, or those of pension age who are not getting the Guarantee part of Pension Credit, there is an upper savings limit of £16,000. Therefore, if a single person or a couple have more than this in savings, then they cannot get council tax benefit. This is part of the government's national benefit scheme and no doubt they take the view that people with savings above this limit would not struggle to pay their council tax bill.
Because council tax benefit varies according to the amount of the council tax bill, the number of people living in the house and the income and savings of the household, it is not possible to give a single weekly income figure below which someone would definitely get some help from this scheme. For this reason, we have a benefits calculator available (link below) so people can quickly work out if they might qualify before going on to make a claim. For anyone who does not have website access, they can call us on 01775 761161 and ask if we can give them an idea of whether they should be claiming.
Don't delay in making a claim as it may mean that you could lose out on benefits, we are unable to backdate claims automatically. (See backdating claims)
If you are not sure whether you will be entitled to benefit, it is best to make a claim anyway or contact us to discuss your eligibility.
Alternatively, you can get an idea of how much benefit we can pay and start your claim by using the Benefits Calculator and Claim.
Fax: 01775 711253
Email: benefits@sholland.gov.uk
Address: South Holland District Council, Benefit and Revenues Team, PO Box 8, Priory Road, Spalding, Lincs. PE11 2XQ
What to do to get this service
We are currently experiencing a high demand for our Housing and Council Tax Benefit service and therefore it is taking us longer than normal to deal with claims.
Register your interest to make a claim using our online intention to claim form; or contact customer services (or the Benefits section) as soon as possible to request an application form to make a claim.
Requests for a claim form can be made by phone, letter, email, fax or in person.
Who can apply?
Anyone who feels that they are on a low income and needs help to pay their Council Tax.
How long will I have to wait for a response?
Within 14 days of receiving all information or as soon as possible after that.
We are currently experiencing a high demand for our Housing and Council Tax Benefit service and therefore it is taking us longer than normal to deal with claims.
How long will the whole process take?
14 days from the receipt date of the final piece of information.
We are currently experiencing a high demand for our Housing and Council Tax Benefit service and therefore it is taking us longer than normal to deal with claims.
Links to forms, leaflets and websites providing more information
Download a Proving Your Identity leaflet
Download a Notes for Claiming leaflet
Download a Claim form
Download a Certificate of earnings form
Download a General Information leaflet
What do I need to provide?
You will need to provide original and up-to-date documentation to back up your claim. Please see this leaflet, it tells you what we will need in order to process your claim in the shortest possible time.
Information we need (PDF)
Alternative Contacts
Citizens advice bureau / JobCentre Plus / The Pension Service
Common Questions
Q. Who should claim for Council Tax Benefit?
A. The person liable to pay the council Tax should apply for benefit.
Q. Will I Automatically be entitled?
A. No, the amount of benefit depends on things like your income, capital, and other people who live with you.
Q. What is Second Adult Rebate?
A. If you are not entitled to Council Tax Benefit due to your high income, you still may be able to receive 25% off your bill if there is a second adult/adults sharing your home. These second adults must be on a low income in order for you to qualify for Second Adult Rebate. If you wish to claim this rebate, then the person or people sharing your home must not be:
- Your Partner (married or unmarried)
- Under 18
- Paying rent
- Liable for Council Tax
- A joint owner or joint tenant
- Already disregarded for a discount on your Council Tax bill; for example you must not be getting a student discount of 25%
If you make a claim for Council Tax Benefit, our system will automatically look at whether Council Tax Benefit or Second Adult Rebate will give you the biggest reduction off your Council Tax bill and award the benefit or rebate that will suit your needs.
The person who receives the Council Tax bill is the person who should make the claim, not the second adult.
There are varying percentage amounts available to Second Adult Rebate and these are dependant upon the second adult or adults circumstances. If Second Adult Rebate is awarded then you could get a percentage reduction on your Council Tax bill. The percentages are 25%, 15% or 7.5%. The amount awarded depends on the second adult or adults circumstances.
Q. When should I claim?
A. At any time or as soon as help is needed. This could be because of financial difficulties due to unemployment, illness, retirement, disability or change of occupancy.
You may claim up to 13 weeks in advance of the anticipated change in circumstances.
Q. How can I claim?
A. You need to complete a benefit claim form. This can be requested by phone on (01775) 761161, in person at your local council, jobcentre, or by writing to us at South Holland District Council.
You only need to complete one form for both housing and council Tax Benefit.
It is very important that you claim straight away and send the form back immediately, even if you do not have all the evidence needed. You can send the missing information at a later date.
Q. When will my claim start?
A. Your claim will normally start from the Monday following receipt of your claim form.
Q. What proof will I need to support my claim?
A. We will need proof of your identity, National Insurance Number, Income, Capital, and residency.
We will need to see original documents for both yourself and your partner. If we need further information we will write to you.
Q. How will I know if my claim has been successful?
A. We will notify you by post of our decision. We try to process all claims within 14 days of receiving all information needed. Contact us for an update if you have not heard in 14 days.
Further Common Questions
Q. Excluding my partner, if I have any other adults living with me, how will it affect my Housing Benefit.
A. Such adults will be treated as either non dependants, lodgers or sub-tenants.
Non Dependants
A Non Dependant is a person living with you or a partner, who does not pay rent on a commercial basis but receives meals and other services and shares most of the accommodation.
If you have a non dependant living with you, it can affect the amount of Housing benefit that you would otherwise be entitled to. This is because the government benefit schemes assume that in most cases a non dependant will make a contribution towards your rent in return for living in your home.
The way it works is that deductions, based on gross income of each non dependant, are made from your benefit entitlements. Where the council has no knowledge of a non dependant's gross income, the maximum deduction is used.
People who don't count as non dependants are as follows:
- The benefit claimant and partner if any.
- A child/foster child of the claimant/partner in full time education if under the age of 19.
- A child/foster child of the claimant/partner not in full time education but under the age of 18.
- Someone of equal status to the claimant/partner i.e. Joint Tenant.
- A person living with the claimant in order to provide care to the claimant or partner if employed by a charitable or voluntary body which charges for the services provided.
- A tenant, sub-tenant, border or lodger of the claimant or partner who is sharing the home on a commercial basis.
Non dependant deductions do not always apply. There will be no non dependant deduction if the claimant/partner is:
- Registered blind or treated as blind.
- Receiving Attendance Allowance or the care component of Disability Living Allowance.
Even if you believe no non dependant deduction will apply you must still tell us about people living in your home. Special rules apply for persons of pensionable age.
Deductions vary depending on the gross income of the non dependants. Where we do not do not know the income of any non dependants we will make the maximum deduction to try and avoid an overpayment of benefit that you would then have to pay back. We still have to make this deduction if the non dependant refuses to pay you the deduction or give income details, this is a matter between you and them.
For more information on non dependants and the deduction we have to make, contact the Benefit Section and ask for a non dependant deduction leaflet.
Lodgers and Boarders
These are people who have moved in with you who are paying for board and lodging with some prepared food, and they are not adult children, relatives or friends.
Deductions are not made for boarders and lodgers; instead some of the rent/board you receive from them each week is added to your income. The first £20.00 per week is disregarded together with half of the rest. For example if you receive £50.00 per week board, only £15.00 is counted as the income for benefit purposes. (£50.00 - £20.00 divided by 2 = £15.00).
Sub-Tenants
These are people, other than adult children, relatives or friends, who are making a payment to you for a room or rooms and no payment is included for meals.
Deductions are not made of sub-tenants; instead some of the rent you receive from them each week is added to your income. The first £20.00 of rent is disregarded. The rest of the weekly rent is counted as income for benefit purposes. For example, if you receive £50.00 per week rent, £30.00 is counted as a weekly income for benefit purposes.
Printed leaflets available providing more information
We have various information leaflets all available from the benefits section or reception area of the council offices.
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Contact Details
If you have any queries about the information provided above, or require further information, please contact Customer Services on 01775 761161 or email info@sholland.gov.uk.
Benefits - Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit
Council Tax Benefit and Backdating Your Claim
Council Tax Benefit Appeals
Council Tax Benefit Changes In Circumstances
Council Tax Benefit Overpayments
Council Tax Benefit Renewal of Claim
Housing Benefit and Backdating Your Claim
Housing Benefit Appeals
Housing Benefit Changes in Circumstances
Housing Benefit New Claim
Housing Benefit Overpayments
Housing Benefit Renewal of Claim
