If your financial circumstances have changed or you are struggling financially, it is important to check whether you may be entitled to receive any additional benefits. It’s a common misconception that benefits are only available if you’re out of work – but even some families with an income of £50,000 or more can qualify for help.
A good resource is the entitledto website which provides a free assessment of the benefits you could be claiming.
Age UK provides good advice if you are of pensionable age, please see their Benefits and Entitlements webpage for more information.
The council is also offering a new service to help maximise the income of residents. If you would like to discuss your income with a dedicated officer from the Financial Inclusion Team, please email financial.inclusion@rbwm.gov.uk and an appointment can be arranged.
Please be aware that we can only provide advice on benefits we administer, not those from central government. If you would like advice on benefits administered by central government, please visit their Benefits webpage, or contact your local Jobcentre Plus office.
We want to help our residents to the best of our abilities. Below you will find an easy guide that explains how your benefits are calculated and links to further information and how to apply.
How your benefits are calculated
Applicable Amount - Explained
Council Tax Support - Explained
Rent Support - Explained
Your entitlement to Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support is calculated based on the information you have given the council about your:
- income
- savings
- household circumstances and
- rental liability.
If you are awarded any council benefits you need to make sure that when you receive your benefits letter (this will be outlining the benefits you're entitled to), you take a note of the following.
- when your benefit starts (and if applicable, when it ends),
- how much your benefit entitlement is and,
- how your benefit has been worked out.
Applying for Benefits
RBWM Benefit Calculator
If you are on a low income and paying either rent and/or Council Tax, you may be entitled to Housing Benefit, Council Tax Support or Second Adult Rebate.
If you get income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, "guaranteed" Pension Credit or Income Support, you may get your full eligible rent paid.
If you do not get these benefits the amount of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support you get depends on:
- the amount of eligible rent you pay
- your liability to Council Tax
- how many people live with you
- your personal circumstances
- how much money you have coming in
- how much you have in savings.
Apply
You may have been advised to complete and submit a shortened form for Council Tax Support if you fulfil one of the following criteria:
You are already in receipt of Housing Benefit and have had a change in circumstances which means you may now qualify for Council Tax Support as well;
or
You have recently applied for Housing Benefit via the Department of Works and Pensions or Pension Service and have been advised you need to claim Council Tax Support from your local council.
If either of the above circumstances apply to you, you won't usually need to submit a full application form online. Instead you can complete a shortened Council Tax Support application form.
You should complete and return this to us as soon as possible, any delay may mean you have to submit a full application and/or you could lose out on getting a reduction on your Council Tax.
Please be aware that if you do not already have a Housing Benefit claim or you have not within the last month submitted a claim via the Department of Works and Pensions or Pension Service, you will need to complete the full application form.
If your financial circumstances have changed or you are struggling financially, it is important to check whether you may be entitled to receive any additional benefits. It’s a common misconception that benefits are only available if you’re out of work – but even some families with an income of £50,000 or more can qualify for help.
A good resource is the entitledto website which provides a free assessment of the benefits you could be claiming.
Age UK provides good advice if you are of pensionable age, please see their Benefits and Entitlements webpage for more information.
The council is also offering a new service to help maximise the income of residents. If you would like to discuss your income with a dedicated officer from the Financial Inclusion Team, please email financial.inclusion@rbwm.gov.uk and an appointment can be arranged.
Please be aware that we can only provide advice on benefits we administer, not those from central government. If you would like advice on benefits administered by central government, please visit their Benefits webpage, or contact your local Jobcentre Plus office.
We want to help our residents to the best of our abilities. Below you will find an easy guide that explains how your benefits are calculated and links to further information and how to apply.
How your benefits are calculated
Applicable Amount - Explained
Council Tax Support - Explained
Rent Support - Explained
Your entitlement to Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support is calculated based on the information you have given the council about your:
- income
- savings
- household circumstances and
- rental liability.
If you are awarded any council benefits you need to make sure that when you receive your benefits letter (this will be outlining the benefits you're entitled to), you take a note of the following.
- when your benefit starts (and if applicable, when it ends),
- how much your benefit entitlement is and,
- how your benefit has been worked out.
Applying for Benefits
RBWM Benefit Calculator
If you are on a low income and paying either rent and/or Council Tax, you may be entitled to Housing Benefit, Council Tax Support or Second Adult Rebate.
If you get income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, "guaranteed" Pension Credit or Income Support, you may get your full eligible rent paid.
If you do not get these benefits the amount of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support you get depends on:
- the amount of eligible rent you pay
- your liability to Council Tax
- how many people live with you
- your personal circumstances
- how much money you have coming in
- how much you have in savings.
Apply
You may have been advised to complete and submit a shortened form for Council Tax Support if you fulfil one of the following criteria:
You are already in receipt of Housing Benefit and have had a change in circumstances which means you may now qualify for Council Tax Support as well;
or
You have recently applied for Housing Benefit via the Department of Works and Pensions or Pension Service and have been advised you need to claim Council Tax Support from your local council.
If either of the above circumstances apply to you, you won't usually need to submit a full application form online. Instead you can complete a shortened Council Tax Support application form.
You should complete and return this to us as soon as possible, any delay may mean you have to submit a full application and/or you could lose out on getting a reduction on your Council Tax.
Please be aware that if you do not already have a Housing Benefit claim or you have not within the last month submitted a claim via the Department of Works and Pensions or Pension Service, you will need to complete the full application form.
