Housing and Council Tax benefit are means tested benefits paid to rent-paying persons on a low income, on Income Support or who receive Job Seeker's Allowance. Your benefit entitlements will depend on your personal circumstances.
How to claim Housing or Council Tax Benefit
If you wish to claim Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit you will need to complete the relevant claim form. You can:
Download a form from below, complete it and post it to the Civic Centre
Pick up a form from the Civic Centre
Telephone the benefits section and ask them to post one to you at home
We now have one form, so Council Tenants, Private Tenants and People who own their own home can complete the same form.
Download the Housing and/or Council Tax Benefits form (
PDF Help, size 330kb)
Completing the form
Check list
Please check that you have completed the following points before sending in your form:
Have you completed every section?
Have you signed and dated the form?
Have you enclosed copies or proof of your savings and income?
If you are a private tenant, have you provided evidence of your tenancy agreement and rental charge?
If you are on benefit, have you included evidence of your entitlement to income Support or Job Seekers Allowance?
If you do not complete the form in full, or do not enclose all the proof required, your claim may be delayed. The benefits office will write to you asking for additional information.
Benefit renewal
The local authority will issue any housholder who is currently receiving Council Tax benefit with a renewal claim form a set period of time before a claim is due for renewal. If you have not received your renewal form and feel that you should have already received one, please contact the benefits office immediately.
Housing benefit is generally paid for a maximum of 60 weeks (5 years if the claimant is over 60). The local authority is responsible for issuing the claimant with a renewal form approximately 8 weeks before the current benefit period is due to end.
Hounslow's free calculator to help you work out your entitlement to benefits and tax credits.
People are missing out on benefits and tax credits worth more than £5 billion a year. Hounslow's free calculator can help you work out your entitlement.
The calculator is free to use and no personal information is required, ensuring that your use of the calculator remains anonymous.
Contact
Book a face-to-face appointment in advance
Call 020 8583 4242 or email rbappointments@hounslow.gov.uk to book an appointment with a customer service advisor.
Hounslow Welfare Benefits and Money Advice Unit
Chief Executive’s department
Civic Centre
Lampton Road
Hounslow
TW3 4DN
Tel: 020 8583 5016
Hours: 2pm to 5pm on Tuesdays and 4.00pm to 7.00pm on Thursdays.