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If you think you might be entitled to help to pay your rent or your council tax, find out how to make a claim, what information you will need to provide and how to make sure everything runs smoothly.

Claims for housing benefit and council tax benefit are dealt with by the same department of the council. You can apply for both benefits on the same form.

There are two ways to claim - alongside claiming other benefits or directly from the council.

Claiming housing benefit with other benefits

You can make a claim for housing benefit at the same time as making a new claim for:

• income support
• jobseeker’s allowance
• employment support allowance or incapacity benefit
• pension credit.

If you apply for these benefits by phone, you can claim housing benefit at the same time. Alternatively, you could apply using a claim form and complete a separate housing benefit form at the same time. You’ll need to complete form HCTB1 – provided by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in benefits claim packs, or you can download a copy from the DWP website.

Claiming housing benefit directly from the council

You can claim housing benefit if you are working and have a low income, or if you are already claiming other benefits. You can get a claim form from your local council by phone or in person.

If you phone the housing and council tax benefit department to let them know that you want to claim, they will send you a claim form to complete – you must return this to them within a month. Make a note of the date and the name of the person you speak to at the council. This is important because, if you are entitled to housing or council tax benefit, it will be paid from the Monday after the date you told the council you wanted to make a claim, not the date they get the form.

You may also be able to get a housing benefit claim form by visiting your local council office.  Some councils arrange appointments for you to attend where they complete the form with you or allow you to apply via email or via the internet. Check your council's website to find out how it’s done in your area.

If you have filled out a HCTB1 form when claiming other benefits, you should not need to fill in another claim form with your council. 

Filling in the housing benefit form

When you are filling in the form, try to give as much information as possible. Be honest – if you lie or withhold information you could end up being paid too much benefit and having to pay it back at a later date. You could even be prosecuted.

If you are having problems completing a form, get help – from a Citizen’s Advice Bureau, your local council or other local advice centre. Use our advice services directory to find agencies in your area.

Why do they ask so many questions?

Everyone’s circumstances are different. It is difficult to have one form that will ask each person the right questions for their situation.

The council wants to get as big a picture as possible of your income and outgoings so they can work out how much benefit you will be entitled to. Answer every question or they will send the form back to you, which will cause delay.

What do I need to provide?

When you answer a question on the claim form, it will tell you whether you need to back this up with evidence (such as wage slips or birth certificates). You can download a checklist of things that the housing/council tax benefit department might want to see.

If you cannot find all the evidence required, hand the form in to the council anyway. You have 28 days to submit everything the council wants to see. If you are having difficulty getting information or evidence, you can get help from Citizens Advice or a welfare rights officer or you can speak to someone at the council.

If the housing benefit department do not receive the information within 28 days, they will cancel your claim, unless you let them know that you are having difficulties and that you are trying to get the information.

Where do I send the form?

The form should go to your local council’s housing benefit office. If you have a claim form from your council, it will tell you the address on the form. If you are claiming other benefits and using form HCTB1, the DWP should send the form to your council, or you can send it yourself – find the address on your council’s website.

Can I hand the form in myself?

This is the safest way to deliver your form. If you cannot go yourself, someone else can go for you. Even if there is a queue, you should wait and get a receipt for the form and any information you have provided. Ask for your documents to be photocopied there and then, so you can take the originals home with you.

Keep your receipt in a safe place. If the council misplaces your form after you have handed it in, you will need this as evidence that you did hand it in.

Can I post the form?

You can use the post, but bear in mind that:

• you will not have a record that you posted it unless you send it by recorded delivery or ask at the post office counter for a ‘certificate of posting’
• letters can get lost or delayed in the post
• you may have to send your original documents through the mail (things like passports and birth certificates are expensive to replace)
• if your form and your information do make it through the mail, they could still get lost in the council offices.

Housing benefit is usually paid from the Monday after your claim gets there, so you could lose benefit if your form is delayed or goes missing, and you could end up having to pay the rent yourself. If possible, it is always best to hand the form in to the council offices yourself.

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