Exception occured while executing the controller. Check error logs for details.

Apply for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support

Check if you qualify

Before applying, please check that you qualify for Housing Benefit or Council Tax Support.

Apply now

If you think meet the criteria, please download and print a  Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support claim form (PDF 793KB).

If you cannot print the form, we can send you one in the post. To request this, email customer.services@dacorum.gov.uk.

Please follow the instructions on your claim form and complete all pages.

You will also need to provide proof for each part of the form.

Proof you need to provide

Expand all

  • Identity

    We need to see proof of identity for both you and your partner (if you have one).

    The document should include your name and date of birth. This could be a:

    • passport
    • driving licence
    • birth or marriage certificate.

    Other forms of identification are acceptable. But we may ask you to provide more than one document to satisfy our checks.

  • National Insurance number

    We need to see proof of your National Insurance number, and that of your partner (if you have one). We cannot process your application without it.

    You can find your National Insurance number on:

    • payslips
    • benefit letters from the Department for Work and Pensions or
    • tax documents (such as a P60 or P45).
  • Rent

    This would usually be a tenancy or licence agreement that shows:

    • the address of the property
    • the start date of the tenancy, and
    • the amount you are charged.

    If you do not have a tenancy or licence agreement, we will need to contact your landlord to verify your rent.

  • Income

    We need to see proof of income for all members of the household over the age of 18. We also need proof of any disability benefits for children aged under 18.

    The Department for Work and Pensions provides us with access to check most benefits, including:

    • Universal Credit
    • Jobseeker's Allowance
    • Employment and Support Allowance
    • Personal Independence Payment
    • Disability Living Allowance
    • Tax Credits
    • State Pension
    • Pension Credit.

    Sometimes we may ask you for more proof to decide your claim.

    If you are working

    We will need to see your payslips for the past two months if you are paid monthly, or five weeks if you are paid weekly.

    If you are self-employed

    We will need to see your last full year of audited accounts. Alternatively, you can complete a self-employed profit and loss form so that we can estimate your weekly income. To request this form, email customer.services@dacorum.gov.uk.

    If you receive a private pension or an annuity

    We will need to see a pension advice slip showing:

    • the amount you get
    • how often you get it.

    We cannot use bank statements as proof of income.

  • Capital

    This is any money held in:

    • bank accounts
    • savings accounts
    • Premium Bonds
    • shares
    • property.

    If you are of working age and your total capital is less than £6,000, we will not need to see any proof.

    If you are of State Pension age and your total capital is less than £10,000, we will not need to see any proof.

    If your total capital is above these amounts, you will need to show us:

    • bank statements for all accounts
    • proof of your Premium Bond holding
    • share certificates
    • the current value of any property (not including the home you live in).
  • Childcare expenses

    If you pay for childcare, you will need to provide invoices from the childcare provider. This will need to show how much the childcare costs.

    The childcare has to be provided by a registered provider, such as a school breakfast club or childminder. You will also need to provide their Ofsted registration number.

Completing and submitting your claim

You must sign the declaration at the end of the form. If you fail to do so, we will return the form to you. This will delay our decision.

If you are able, please scan the form at home and send a PDF of it to benefits@dacorum.gov.uk. You can do the same with any proof you are sending with your application.

To send the form back by post, please address it to:

Benefits,
The Forum,
Marlowes,
Hemel Hempstead,
Hertfordshire, HP1 1DN

Please do not send valuable documents in the post.

How long your claim will take

We aim to look at Housing Benefit claims within one week and Council Tax Support claims within four weeks. At busy times, this may take us longer.

We will write to you when we have made our decision or if we need more information. The benefits notification letter (sometimes called a benefits decision letter) will set out:

To request a copy of your benefits decision letter, please email customer.services@dacorum.gov.uk.

Request help to fill in your form

If you need help completing the claim form, please contact us.

  • Email customer.services@dacorum.gov.uk
  • Phone 01442 228000
  • If you find it difficult to get to one of our Customer Service Centres, a member of our Benefits team can visit you at home.

Page Last Updated: Monday, 09 December 2024 at 03:08 PM