If you are in need of financial help with paying your rent or council tax it is the Benefits Service that you need to contact. We deal with all aspects of your claim from assisting you with filling in the claim forms to the payment of your benefit to you or your landlord.
If you pay rent to a Housing Association, private landlord or a letting agent you can claim Housing Benefit. If you are the person named on the Council Tax bill for your home you can claim Council Tax Benefit. As long as you pay rent or council tax and you are on a low income you can make a claim, even if you are employed, self employed, sick or disabled, a pensioner, single or have children, out of work or looking for work.
Both benefits are assessed based on your income, savings, age, the amount of rent or council tax that you pay, the size and age of your family and the contribution made by any lodgers or other adults in your household. There are currently about 11,000 claimants in receipt of Housing or Council Tax Benefit.
Claims must be made on the Council's claim form. There is one form for both benefits. Any benefit to which you are entitled will normally start from the Monday following receipt of your form. Claims for backdating your entitlement will be considered if requested in writing. You must be able to show continuous good cause of failure to make your claim at the appropriate time.
You will be asked to provide proof of your identity, income, rent and savings and provide original documents. We return all valuable documents like benefit books or, building society books the same day we receive them, and by Recorded Delivery. Alternatively, you can bring them in to our Housing and Benefit Advisors, who deal with personal callers to the Benefits Office. They will verify that your documents are correct. The Advisors can deal with any query relating to your claim, entitlement and payments. You can also have an appointment to see them in private if you contact them in advance. Benefit staff are also available on the telephone to answer specific and general queries.
You do have the legal right of appeal against most decisions made about your claim. The Benefits Service has an Appeals Officer who will review your claim and refer it to the Appeals Service for a final decision. An appeals form is available by clicking here. It is a requirement that this form is signed. Therefore, please print, sign and return it to: Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council, PO Box 191, Civic Offices, London Road, Basingstoke, Hants RG21 7EA. Remember to enclose any supporting documents.
