Rent Collection

If you have a low income

You can get help with your rent if you are on a low income even if you are working. Housing benefit helps to pay the rent for people on state benefits, a low wage or other low income. The amount of housing benefit you can get depends on several things.

How much money you (and your partner if you have one) have coming into the household, the amount of your rent, your savings or other assets and the circumstances of anyone else living in your household.

When you make a claim for housing benefit we will check whether you qualify and automatically pay any housing benefit you are entitled to directly to your rent account. Even if you qualify for housing benefit you may still have to pay something towards your rent for other charges such as water rates, heating, hot water or garage rent.

You can claim benefit by either:

Filling in our claim form, which you can pick up from any of the addresses provided on our contact details on this website or Local Service Addresses
calling into our office where you can get help filling in the form
Filling in form HCTB1, when you make a claim for Income Support, Income-based Job seekers Allowance or Pension Credit. This form will be in a claim pack when you claim one of these benefits. This form counts as making a claim and will be used to work out the start date of your claim
Asking us to visit you if you are unwell or unable to leave the house, visiting and welfare team; or
Getting independent advice and help from various agencies
More about housing and council tax benefits