Housing and council tax benefit

Local housing allowance changes

From Friday 1 April 2011 the way local housing allowance is calculated will change. This means your entitlement and the amount you receive may be different.

Find out more about how local housing allowance will change from 1 April 2011

If you're on a low income and need help to pay your rent and council tax, you may be able to claim housing and/or council tax benefit. This can include site rent and mooring fees but does not include help to pay your mortgage.

Get advice on paying your mortgage on the DirectGov Mortgage Help website (link opens in a new window) 

There are four different types of housing and council tax benefit that you can claim -

• Housing benefit helps housing association, hostel and council tenants pay their rent.
  More information about housing benefit and if you can claim it
  
  
• Local housing allowance (LHA) helps private rented tenants to pay their rent.
  More information about local housing allowance and if you can claim it
  
  
• Council tax benefit helps both tenants and homeowners to pay their council tax
  More information about council tax benefit and if you can claim it
  
  
• Second adult rebate is a benefit for people who are liable to pay council tax, have at least one other adult living with them, and the other adult(s) are on a low income
  More information about second adult rebate and if you can claim it
  
  

If you are eligible for any of the four benefits above, the amount you will get depends on your household circumstances and how much rent or council tax you are liable for.

You can gain an idea of how much benefit you might get by using the benefits calculator below -

Making a claim

• How to apply
  More information on how to apply for housing or council tax benefit

If you have already claimed

• My Revenues and Benefits - Manage your housing and council tax benefit online
  More information about My Revenues and Benefits



• Change of circumstances - If you are claiming benefit, by law you must tell the benefits service about any changes as soon as possible as it may affect the amount of benefit you receive
  Report a change of circumstances



• Discretionary housing payments - If you receive housing or council tax benefit but are struggling to make ends meet, you can apply for discretionary housing payments.
  More information about discretionary housing payments



• Disagreeing with a benefit decision - If you have received your benefit decision letter and you do not understand, or are unhappy with a decision, you can request for us to look at the decision again
  More information about disagreeing with a benefit decision

Customer feedback

We appreciate any feedback you can give us on the service we provide.
More information on how to make a comment, compliment or complaint about our service

Contact us

Freepost RSJC-KKBE-ABXZ
Hull City Council Revenues and Benefits Service
PO Box 15
Hull
HU1 2AB

Tel: 01482 300 300
Text phone: 01482 300 349
Email: benefitssr@hullcc.gov.uk