You can make a claim for Housing and Council Tax Benefit if:
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You have to pay rent to a private landlord, housing association, or for a Gloucester City Homes property. Claims for Housing Benefit have to be made by the person responsible for paying rent to the landlord. Please note Housing Benefit is not payable for people who live with from close relatives and rent part of a property from them.
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You have to pay Council Tax on your home.
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Your savings are less than £16,000. If you have capital over £16,000 you are not entitled to Housing Benefit or Council Tax Rabate. However there are different rules for pensioners who are in receipt of Guarantee Credit (please see the section on Pension Credits for further information). Please note that this limit applies to the combined savings of yourself and your partner (if applicable) and includes all savings, cash saved at home, bank and building society accounts, stocks and shares, premium bonds and any other properties you might have.
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You are on a low income. If you work full time or part time employed or self employed and receive a low wage then you could be eligible to claim. This is also the case if you are in receipt of Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support or any other state benefit.
Students are excluded from claiming Housing Benefit/Council Tax Rebate but there are some exceptions to this rule, for example single parents, disabled students or people in receipt of Income Support/Jobseeker's Allowance (income based). For more information on eligible students please contact the Customer Services team on 01452 396483.
Persons from abroad can be eligible to make a claim for Housing Benefit/Council Tax Rebate. In order to get benefit paid you must prove that you have leave to remain in the country and also satisfy the ‘habitual residency test’ along with other conditions. For further information please contact the Customer Services section on 01452 396483.
Not everyone can claim both Housing Benefit and Council Tax Rebate. We will work out what you are entitled to claim when you complete an application form.
Further guidance information on Housing Benefit and Council Tax Rebate is available from the Department for Work and Pensions website.|
Last Modified: Tuesday 27 March 2012