Who Can Claim Housing Benefit?

You can make a claim if you are: 

• A tenant OR
• The married or unmarried partner of a tenant AND
• Living in the property for which benefit is claimed

(Other people can apply in certain circumstances. Please ask if you are unsure).

How to Claim

You must complete a claim form. These can be obtained from your local Council or any of our offices.

Information to Support Your Claim

You will need to provide original, not photocopied, documents to support all the statements you make in your claim.

You will see what types of evidence you have to provide as you go through the claim form. Generally you need to provide proof of:

• Your identity and that of your partner
• Your household
• The income of any non-dependants (in other words anyone over the age of 18 who lives with you and is not paying you as a boarder)
• Your income and that of your partner
• Any capital belonging to you, your partner or your children

If you are currently receiving Housing Benefit from your local Council and have already supplied all this information and there has only been a simple change in your situation ( for example you have moved), you may only need to give evidence to prove the change in circumstances rather than complete a full new claim. Please check with your local council.

If you are unsure what proofs to include, please ask before making your claim.

Incomplete Claims

If you can’t provide all the proofs with your claim, you have 2 options:

• Make your claim anyway. You will be told what extra documents are required. 

• Make a “short claim” giving details of your name and address (forms are available from your local Council or Boston Mayflower). Please note that not all councils operate the short claim scheme.

You will then have 1 month to provide the additional information or the completed full claim form without losing any entitlement. 

Please note:

If you don’t make this deadline, your claim may be cancelled

If you are finding it difficult to get the information, it is vital to contact the Council and explain what is the problem.