Are You Losing Out On Your Entitlement?

• If you are on a low income, you could be entitled to Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit (or both)
• It costs nothing to complete a form - we provide a pre-paid envelope for its return.

To obtain a form or ask about possible entitlement contact:

Ilkeston Town Hall or Long Eaton Civic Centre
Telephone: 0115 907 1010

or email: benefits@erewash.gov.uk

or check your entitlement using our on-line Housing and Council Tax Benefit calculator.

Benefits Overview

There are several benefits available to persons on low income and what you are entitled to depends on the type of accommodation you live in, the size of your family and the amount of money you have coming in each week.

If you own your own home, or are paying a mortgage to buy your own home, then the only benefit available to you is help to pay your Council Tax.

If you live in accommodation which is rented from a private landlord or housing association, then you would qualify for help with your rent and your Council Tax.

Housing Benefit is Changing

Local Housing Allowance (LHA) aims to simplify Housing Benefit. This will be introduced from 7th April 2008. It will only affect new claims or people changing address after this date. If you have a change to your income or capital you will continue to be assessed in the current way.

How it will affect you

• If you live in a Housing Association property, LHA will not affect you.
• LHA is a flat rate allowance based on the size of your household and the area in which you live.
• There are no changes to the way we work out your benefit, this will still be based on your income, savings and proof of a valid tenancy.
• The Rent Service will set the LHA rates and these will be published by us so that you can be clear about the amount of rent that LHA will cover.
• You will be able to shop around with your allowance. If you find a property you like with a rent that exceeds the LHA you will need, as you do now, to make up the difference.
• If you find somewhere with a rent below your allowance, you will be able to keep the difference up to a maximum of £15.00 per week.
• Payment will normally be made to you, and you will then pay your landlord, under certain circumstances we will pay directly to your landlord.

When you enter The Local Housing Allowance website, confirm you have read and understood the terms and conditions by ticking the box and then follow the instructions.

More on  local housing rates_July2008.pdf  [PDF 9539K]

The rules governing the payment of these benefits can be found in the appropriate section:-