Contact:
  • Revenues & Benefits
  • Address:
    PO Box 2797, Bath, BA1 1WF
  • E-mail:
    revenues_benefits@bathnes.gov.uk  
  • Telephone:
    01225 477777
  • Fax:
    01225 477809
  • Minicom:
    01225 477309
  • Page Updated:
    06/04/2008
  • Author:
    Council Connect
A to Z Index

Housing & Council Tax Benefits

 

Housing and Council Tax Benefit are National Welfare Benefits, administered by Local Authorities. The purpose of Housing Benefit is to help people on a low income to pay their rent. Council Tax Benefit is to help people on a low income to pay their Council Tax. You cannot get Housing or Council Tax Benefit if you, and any partner have more than £16,000 in savings, unless you are in receipt of the guaranteed element of pension credit. Savings up to the £16,000 limit will be taken into account when working out your benefit. Different rules about savings apply to pensioners.

 

Council Tax Benefit

Council Tax Benefit is paid to people who pay Council Tax on their home. The benefit is paid by reducing the amount of Council Tax they have to pay to the council.

 

Second Adult Rebate

There is also another type of Council Tax Benefit which does not depend on the claimant's own income and savings. This is called Second Adult Rebate and is awarded when the claimant has a second adult in his or her home who is on a low income. This would usually be another member of the family or household who is not a partner, such as an elderly parent or adult child. This benefit is not available if the person pays the claimant a rent to live in their home.

 

Housing Benefit

Housing Benefit is paid to people who pay rent on their home to a Housing Association or to a private landlord. You can claim regardless of whether you rent the whole of the property or just part of it. If you are a tenant of Somer Housing Association the benefit is normally paid by reducing the amount of rent payable to Somer.

The Local Housing Allowance (LHA) Scheme is the new way we assess Housing Benefit for private tenants. There is no change to the entitlement rules for Housing Benefit – these will still be based on a person's income, savings and proof of rent etc.  However with LHA, tenants will receive payments direct to a Bank or Building Society Account and will be responsible for paying their rent themselves.

To find out more visit our LHA pages.

 

Child Tax Credit

Child Tax Credit is a single tax credit aimed at families with children. This has replaced the child element of Income Support, Jobseekers Allowance, Working Families Tax Credit and Disabled Persons Tax Credit and also the children's tax credit.

 

Working Tax Credit

Working Tax Credit is aimed at those in work and on a low income. This has replaced the adult element of Working Families Tax Credit and Disabled Persons Tax Credit and the employment element of the New Deal 50+.

Nine out of 10 families will be entitled to the new tax credits, but you don't need to have children to qualify. If you do have children, you could be entitled to Child Tax Credit if your income is up to £58,000 a year or £66,000 a year if your child is under one. You may also get Working Tax Credit if you have children and you or your partner work at least 16 hours per week; or if you do not have children and are over 25 and work 30 hours a week.

Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs website can work out the amount of tax credit you could be entitled to.  You can also apply for tax credits on line.  Or contact the tax credit helpline on 0845 300 3900.