Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support

Housing benefit

Housing Benefit can help you pay your rent if you’re unemployed, on a low income or claiming benefits. It’s being replaced by Universal Credit unless one of the following apply:

• You live in temporary accommodation
• You live in sheltered or supported housing with special facilities such as alarms or wardens
•  You receive a severe disability premium or are eligible to a severe disability premium
• You are of state pension age

From 15th May 2019 changes in your circumstances may mean that you are no longer entitled to housing benefit and may need to apply for Universal credit

How much you can get

How much you get depends on:

• the lower figure of your ‘eligible’ rent or LHA rate
• your household income including benefits, pensions and savings (over £6,000)
• your circumstances (for example your age or whether you have a disability)

To check your eligibility or make a claim click on the link :  https://new.enfield.gov.uk/services/benefits

Council Tax Support

If you are on a low income, whether you’re working or not, and need financial help to pay your Council Tax bill, you may be able to get Council Tax Support.

You may get Council Tax Support if you pay Council Tax and your income and capital (savings and investments) are below a certain level. You may apply whether you rent or own your home, or live rent-free. You could qualify if you are out of work, or in work and earning a wage.

Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support – New claims

Housing Benefit (HB) and Council Tax Support (CTS) are means-tested welfare benefits. The amount you could receive is based on your income, capital, circumstances, rent and Council Tax levels. These benefits help people on low income pay their rent and Council Tax. Both benefits can be claimed on the same form.

Use Enfield Council’s benefit/support calculator to see if you are entitled and make an online claim by clicking on this link enfield.betteroff.org.uk

Unfortunately, Enfield Carers Centre cannot help with Housing Benefit or Council Tax Support queries or claims, but if you contact Enfield Council’s Housing Benefit and Council Tax team on 020 8379 1000 or visit their Benefits website page by clicking here council benefits information

You may be eligible for a discount, disregard or exemption on your Council Tax.

You may be entitled to a 25% discount

• If only one adult is living in the property
• there are two or more people living in the household and all but one is classed as ‘disregarded’

You may be entitled to a 50% discount if:

• all residents of the household are disregarded
• you are living in a granny annex and are related to the person that owns the main dwelling

A person may be disregarded if they are:

• in a hospital or care home
• are severely mentally impaired
• a student or student nurse.
• a school or college leaver
• an apprentice or YTS trainee
• a dependant that child benefit is provided for
• a student and their non-British partner
• a care worker, such as a community service volunteer
• living with and providing essential care (i.e. due to a disability), who is not their spouse, partner or child under 18

If you have adapted your home for a disabled adult or child you may be entitled to a reduction. If you are eligible your Council Tax will be reduced by one band.