I have recently been bereaved.  What do I need to do about Housing and Council Tax Benefit?

If you have sadly been bereaved, and the person who passed away claimed Housing and Council Tax Benefit, it is important for you to let us know, as soon as possible, so that we can prevent an overpayment from being created, so that we don't add any further distress.  Please let us know by clicking on this link, which will take you to a page where you can complete a Changes in Circumstance form. Please also provide the death certificate as evidence.

If you have any questions or need any advice regarding your recent bereavement, and how it has affected your entitlement to Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit, please call us on 0345 302 2316, where you can get advice over the phone, arrange an appointment at our offices, or request a Visiting Officer to come to your home.

I have two homes - can I claim Housing Benefit on both?

You are only entitled to claim Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit on one home.  However, we might be able to pay you 'overlapping benefit' if you meet all of the following criteria:

• A liability to pay rent at your new address
• Claimed Housing Benefit at your new address
• Still have a liability to pay rent at your old address, which could not reasonably have been avoided.

If you think you may be entitled to overlapping benefit, you must let us know and provide evidence of why you think you may be entitled to it.  We will then make a decision to say whether we agree you are entitled to that particular kind of benefit or not.

Can I continue to claim Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit if I am absent from my home?

Normally, we will only continue to pay your Housing and Council Tax Benefit if you are in your home.  However, there are special circumstances when we may still pay Benefit for a limited period if you are absent from your home.

If you are away from your home on a temporary basis, we can pay Benefit for a maximum of 13 weeks, provided that the absence is temporary and will last no more than that period of time, yhou will be returning to your home and the property you rent will not be rented out to another tenant.

If you are absent from your home due to being in hospital or on remand, we will be able to pay Benefit to you for a maximum of 52 weeks, as long as you are likely to return to your home within that time.  However, if, during this period, it becomes clear that you will not be able to return to your home, you must tell us, and we will stop paying your Housing Benefit immediately.

You must tell us about any absence from your home and provide proof of why you are absent from your home and how long your absence will be.

Can I claim Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit if I am a citizen from a country outside of the UK?

If you are someone from a country outside the UK, there are strict rules about who can apply and the circumstances they must have in order to be eligible for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.  For example, immigration staus, the country you come from, and your right to employment in the UK, are all taken into consideration.  To find out more, and to see if you are eligible, please contact us by ringing 0345 302 2316 and we will discuss, either over the phone, or we can arrange a visit to your home, whether you are eligible to claim Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.  We can arrange for all printed information to be translated for you, and if you make a visit or phone us, we can arrange for an interpreter to help you.

Can I claim Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit if I am a student?

Council Tax Benefit

If you are a full-time student, studying at a college or university, you may be entitled to a discount or exemption from paying Council Tax.  To find out more about Council Tax exemptions for students, please visit www.swindon.gov.uk/counciltaxexemptions.

Housing Benefit

The Government expects full-time students to use grants, student loans and access funds to pay their rent.  This means that most full-time students are not able to claim Housing Benefit.

You may be able to claim Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit, as a student, if you:

• Receive Income Support or Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• Are a part-time student
• Are aged 19 or under and in Further Education
• Are aged 60 years or over
• Are responsible for a child
• Are a single foster parent
• Meet the conditions for the Disability Premium
• Have not been able to work for 28 weeks
• Qualify for a grant that includes an allowance because you are deaf
• Have interrupted your studies, with agreement from your college or university, due to illness or caring responsibilities
• Have a partner who is not a student, then you as a student would not be allowed to claim, but your partner could.

If you make a Benefit claim, you will need to provide evidence that shows why you may still be entitled to claim Benefits.

If you want more information about Students claiming Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit, please visit the National Benefit Leaflet website, at www.benefit-leaflets.org, where you can dowload the Guide for Students leaflet.

How will the Council pay me my Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit?

Your Council Tax Benefit will be paid direct to your Council Tax account and you will receive a revised Council Tax bill showing the amount of Council Tax Benefit taken off your Council Tax bill, and any remaining Council Tax you will need to pay.

Swindon Borough Council prefers to make payment of Housing Benefit to tenants and landlords by BACS, direct into their bank account.  This has proven better for claimants for the following reasons:

• Security - there are no cheques so they cannot get lost or stolen
• Convenience - the money goes straight into your account, so you don't have to pay in the cheque or wait for it to clear
• Peace of Mind - the money is always in your account on the due date, so you don't have to worry about it being delayed or lost in the post.

If you would like your Housing Benefit paid by BACS, please download the BACS forms:

BACS form for Payment of Benefit to Tenants
BACS form for Payment of Benefit to Landlord

You can return the BACS form to us in the following ways:

By Post

Post it to us at this address:

The Benefits Service
Swindon Borough Council
Admail 4144
Swindon
Wiltshire
SN3 5ZR

Visit Our Offices

Alternatively, you could bring them in to our offices at the following address:

Swindon Direct
Swindon Borough Council
Beckhampton Street
Swindon
Wiltshire
SN1 2JH