Housing Benefit -New claim

The purpose of the Housing Benefit Scheme is to help people on low incomes pay their rent.

Housing Benefit

You can claim help with your rent if you are in receipt of Income Support, Job Seekers Allowance, Pension Credit or you live on a low income.

Rent Allowance or Local Housing Allowance is paid to private sector tenants living in privately rented accommodation, Rent Rebate is paid to Council tenants. Both payments are calculated on your income and capital. A partner is someone you are married to, or someone you live with as if you are married to them.

You cannot get Housing Benefit if:

• you, or your partner between you, have more than £16,000 (unless you receive the Guaranteed Credit component of Pension Credit) in savings/capital
  Savings/Capital includes ISAs, Stocks, Shares, National Savings Certificates, Income Bonds, Tessas and all Bank/Building Society accounts, etc.

Payments of Housing Benefit

Rent Allowance or Local Housing Allowance is paid by crossed cheque or by bank credit. Rent allowance is paid either to you or your landlord, whereas Local Housing Allowance is normally only paid to you.
Where payments are paid to a landlord, the landlord must agree to repay any overpaid benefit. (see Landlord Declaration right).

How long does it take?

We aim to process all benefit claim forms as quickly as possible. Any delay in producing the required documents may slow down the application. Therefore please ensure you provide all documents listed on the checklist within the claim form.

If it has been longer than 2 weeks since you sent all requested information to us, then you should contact Solihull Connect on 0121 704 8200, as soon as possible.

How to apply for Housing Benefit?

To apply for Housing Benefit you will need to complete an application form. To request an application form:

Telephone: 0121 704 8200 (Solihull Connect ) or send us a request form, and we will get a one out to you the same working day.

Follow this link for more details of other ways you can apply for Housing benefit.

Alternatively you can download and print an application form (PDF format, attached below). It is important that you read the guidance notes (attached below) prior to completing your application form.

Contact Details

For further information on claiming benefits, please contact Income and Awards

Telephone: 0121 704 8200 Email: council.tax@solihull.gov.uk