Council tax benefit - new claim
If you are on a low income and liable to pay Council Tax, Council Tax Benefit could help you. Find out more about how to claim below.
Alternatively, if someone who lives with you is on a low income, you might be entitled to second adult rebate.
How do I claim?
You need to fill in an application form for Council Tax Benefit. You can get a form from any of our offices, or by emailing, writing to, or phoning us (see our contacts page for details). You can also contact us if you need any help to fill in your form. Remember, we cannot pay you any benefit until we receive your completed form.
If you are claiming Income Support, Jobseekers Allowance, Incapacity Benefit or Employment and Support Allowance, you will normally be asked if you want to claim Council Tax Benefit at the same time. To claim any of these benefits, you will need to contact the Jobcentre Plus on 0800 055 6688.
What other information will I need to supply to claim benefit?
We will need to see:
- Proof of your identity and your National Insurance Number (and proof for your partner if you have one).
- Details of everyone who lives with you.
- Proof of all your income, savings and investments.
We will ask you about all this information on your claim form. Please note that we have to see original documents as proof of your circumstances. We cannot accept photocopies. It will speed up your claim if you return the form with all the proof needed. If you cannot send in all of the information needed return the form with a note explaining what is missing. Do not delay returning the form or you may lose Benefit.
How do I know whether I will qualify?
You can contact our team for more information and advice. You can also get an estimate of your benefit entitlement using our online benefit calculator. You will need to have details of your rent, council tax, income and capital to hand.
What happens next?
For more information about what happens after we have received your claim, visit our what happens next page.
Useful links
Direct.gov - All about public services in one place
Jobcentre Plus - The official Jobcentre Plus website
The official Pension Service website