If you have a low income, you may be eligible for help to pay your rent and council tax. You do not need to be out of work or receiving social security benefits to get help. For information about these benefits and how to apply, see the links on the left.
If you are currently claiming benefits, you could be affected by upcoming changes to the UK benefits system. Visit our Changes to Benefits 2011 section for more information.
You can claim if:
You cannot claim if:
Special rules apply to the following people who apply for housing and council tax benefit:
Even where special rules apply, you could still be entitled to housing benefit or council tax benefit. To find out if you are entitled you should claim. For more details about how to claim, click on the link on the left under Main Menu.
You can claim housing benefit if you live in a home you pay rent for. This includes renting from a private landlord, a Housing Association, the council or if you live in a hotel or hostel.
There are some service charges included in your rent that housing benefit cannot pay for such as water rates or your personal gas, electricity or phone bill.
If you rent from the council and need help with your rent, we can generally pay benefit up to the full amount of your rent less a deduction for other people who live with you and certain service charges.
If you rent from a private landlord and need help with your rent, the amount of benefit that we can pay depends on your Local Housing Allowance.
Housing Benefits are calulated using a system called Local Housing Allowance (LHA).
If you rent a property from a private landlord you will be affected by Local Housing Allowance if you either:
For more details, click on the Local Housing Allowance link on the left under Main Menu.
You can claim council tax benefit if you live in a home that you pay council tax for.
There are two different schemes that can help you pay your council tax, you cannot get council tax benefit and second adult rebate at the same time.
Main council tax benefit - you may be entitled to this benefit if you are on a low income
Second adult rebate - you may be entitled to this benefit if you are not on a low income. It is not based on the money you have, but on the money other people who live with you have. You cannot claim second adult rebate if you are married or have a partner who lives with you.
For more details about council tax, click on the link on the right under Related Information.
For more details, click on the How to Claim link on the left under Main Menu.
We can pay up to the full amount that you are charged for rent or council tax.
The amount of benefit paid depends on:
For a guide to your entitlement, click on the Benefit Calculator link on the left under Main Menu. Please note that the calculation is only a guide and is not a decision.
To get a decision about your entitlement you should claim, for more details, click on the How to Claim link on the left under Main Menu.
For answers to Frequently Asked Questions click the link on the right under Do It Online.
For more details about housing and council tax benefits in English and other languages, click on the Benefit Leaflets link on the right under Useful Websites.
You can always contact us for help and advice on 020 7527 4990.
You should contact us. We would like to know what you think about this website, or about the service we provide to you. For more details, click on the How to Contact us link on the left under Main Menu or email us benefits.service@islington.gov.uk
Page Last Updated: 11 March 2011