Whats New?

Child benefit won’t count as income when we calculate your Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit. This means that if you already receive benefit and have children, you may get extra help towards your rent and/or your Council Tax.

If you or your partner are aged 60 or over the amount of savings you can have before it effects your entitlement to benefit has been increased from £6,000 to £10,000.

This means that savings/investments up to £10,000 will not be taken into account when your Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit is calculated.

The capital cut off limit of £16,000 will still apply for those not receiving Pension Credit (guarantee-element), more information can be found in our who can qualify for benefit section.

You do not need to contact us. If either of these changes affect you we will automatically recalculate your Housing and/or Council Tax Benefit and provide you with written notification of this.

If you have had any other changes in your circumstances please let us know.

These new changes could mean that you now qualify for benefit. Even if you have previously applied but not been entitled you may now qualify for help towards your rent and/or Council Tax.

We have been identifying and contacting applicants who applied for benefit from 3 August 2009 but did not qualify under the old rules who may now qualify for assistance. If you have not heard from us or think you may now qualify for financial help towards your rent and/or Council Tax you can check this by using our benefit calculator.  Please note however that this calculation is for guidance purposes only.

Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit can be claimed by completing a single application form.

Second Adult Rebate can be claimed by completing our abbreviated Second adult Rebate application form.

Either of these forms are available for download:

• Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit form
• Second Adult Rebate Form

Please note that if you download an application form we suggest that you contact us to register your intention to make a claim.

If you would like us to post you either of these forms please contact us.  Alternatively either claim form can be obtained by visiting our Cromer or Fakenham offices.