About Housing Benefit
Housing Benefit is a means-tested benefit (based on your financial circumstances) and is intended to help people on a low income to pay their rent. It is not a payment of rent, which means that you as the tenant, not the council, are responsible for making sure that the rent is paid.
If you make a claim for Housing Benefit, it will be dealt with by the Housing Benefit Section within Bridgend County Borough Council, which is based at the ‘Civic Offices, Angel Street, Bridgend’.
Who can claim Housing Benefit?
You may be able to get help towards the rent you pay for where you live if any of the following apply:
- Your savings are less than £16,000. If your savings are under £3,000 (or £6,000 if you are 60 or over), the council will ignore them when they work out your benefit. If your savings are between £3,000 and £16,000, a ‘tariff income’ of £1 will be added to your weekly income for every £250 (or part of) of your savings over £3,000 up to the £16,000 limit. So, if you had savings of £3,750, a tariff income of £3 would be added to your weekly income.
- If you are aged 60 or over and have more than £6,000 in savings, the ‘tariff income’ of £1 will be added to your weekly income for every £500 (or part of) of your savings over £6,000 up to the £16,000 limit. So, if you had savings of £6,750, a tariff income of £2 would be added to your weekly income.
- You only get a small occupational pension.
- You get state benefits such as Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Retirement Pension, Pension Credits and Disabled Living Allowance.
- If you get a War Disablement Pension, the council will not take this into account when they work out your benefit.
- You are working 16 hours or less every week and are on a low income.
- You are self-employed but your business is making little or no profit. If you have audited accounts you will be asked to show these, but if you have only just started your business you should ring the Housing Benefit Section for advice.
- You are a student who has children or get certain disability benefits. As only some students can get benefit, it might be a good idea to ring the Housing Benefit Section if you are in any doubt.
If you think you might be able to get Housing Benefit, you should make a claim. The Housing Benefit Section will be happy to help you with your form, and will write and tell you if they can give you benefit towards your rent.
How do I make a claim for Housing Benefit?
All claims must be made in writing to the council. You can get an application form from our customer services centre, the Jobcentre Plus office (next to the civic offices), the council’s Housing Benefit Section and a number of council libraries.
When you send your form back, you must make sure that it is fully filled in and signed, and that you send in all supporting evidence and proof.
If you have trouble getting around and are not able to visit our customer services centre to fill in your application form, please ring us and we will be happy to arrange for one of our housing officers to visit you at your home and help you with your form.
Other things you may need to know about claiming Housing Benefit:
- Other adults who live with you, known as ‘non-dependants’, may affect the amount of benefit you get.
- You are responsible for paying your rent and any arrears. If your benefit goes down because you have a non-dependant, it will still be up to you to make sure that you pay your rent.
- You must have moved into your home and continued to live there before Housing Benefit can be paid to you.
- If you claim Housing Benefit, you have a duty to write and tell the Housing Benefit Section straight away about any changes in your circumstances that might affect the amount of benefit you get. This could include your income or savings going up or down, someone coming to live with you, or you moving out of your home. If you are in any doubt what to do when your circumstances change, ring the Housing Benefit Section and they will be happy to help you.