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Local Housing Allowance is a new way of calculating your Housing Benefit. it will affect people living in private rented accommodation making a new claim for benefit or changing address on or after 7 April 2008. Click here for more information about the Local Housing allowance.

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If you are on Income Support, income based Jobseekers Allowance or Guarantee Pension Credit, you will normally get maximum Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.

People who are not on Income Support, income-based Jobseekers Allowance or Guarantee Pension Credit are means tested. This means that we will compare your income with the minimum amount the Government says you need to live on. If your income is less than this amount, you will get maximum Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.

If your income is more than the Government says you need to live on, we will reduce Housing Benefit by 65p for each £1 you have over the Governments minimum figure. In the same way, we will reduce Council Tax Benefit by 20p for each £1.

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Click here to use our Online Benefits Calculator

From 7 April 2008 if you are affected by the new Local Housing Allowance you will also be able to check the amount of Local Housing Allowance you may be entitled to. Click here for more information about the Local Housing Allowance.

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• your rent includes something which you cannot claim Housing Benefit for, such as missed rent payments, water charges, support charges or fuel;
• your income or capital (savings) is too high;
• you are single without children and under 25 (see note below)
• you have someone living with you aged 18 or over - this is known as a 'non-dependant deduction' and depends on that person's income and circumstances - click here for more information about non-dependant deductions.
• the amount of rent we use to work out your benefit is 'restricted' because your rent is too high, or because your home is too large for your needs (see note below). If you come under the Local Housing Allowance, the standard rate for the size of accommodation you need may be lower than the rent you are being charged. Click here for more information about the Local Housing Allowance.

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You cannot get Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit if you have capital (savings) over £16,000. Although we may still be able to pay some people getting the Guarantee Pension Credit.

 You cannot normally get benefit if you are living with a member of your immediate family and paying them rent.

We cannot pay you benefit if you do not give us all the information we need.

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• your income or capital (savings) is too high;
• you owe Council Tax for the time before you claimed; or
• you have someone living with you aged 18 or over (this is known as a 'non-dependant deduction' and depends on that person's income and circumstances - click here for more information.).

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If you are a Council Tenant...

• We will pay your Housing Benefit straight into your rent account each week apart from the weeks when you do not have to pay rent.

If you rent your home privately or if you live in social accomodation...

• We normally pay Housing Benefit into bank accounts by a "direct payment".
• You can choose for us to pay your landlord directly. But, if you come under the Local Housing Allowance you do not have this choice so your benefit will be paid directly to you. However, there are times when we could still pay your landlord if we think you are unable to manage your own financial affairs.
• We must pay the landlord,if you are more than 8 weeks in arrears (this also applies to people under Local Housing Allowance).
• We pay either fortnightly or every four weeks. We would pay you every two weeks for the previous two weeks, or we would pay your landlord every four weeks for the previous four weeks.

Paying your Housing Benefit to a bank account is the best and safest method.

• You'll get your money the very same day it is due.
• There are no delays waiting for the post.
• Your money can't get lost.
• You don't have to travel to your bank or queue up to pay your money in.
• Other people can't get to your money before you do.
• You can pay your landlord their rent straigtht from your bank account.

Please let us know if you would like us to send you our leaflet about Direct payments.

You will have to give us your bank details, or your landlords bank details, so we can pay your Housing Benefit. Our leaflet includes a form to fill in or, you can click here to print a Direct Payments form to fill in and send to us. 

If you don't have a bank account, it is really easy to set one up. There are lots of bank and building societies wanting to help you. Ask us for a leaflet which explains all you need to know. The leaflet is written by the FSA (Financial Services Authority). Click here to go the FSA website. Or alternatively, click here to see a copy of the FSA leaflet about basic bank accounts. Please let us know if you have any questions or need any help about arranging a bank account.

A small number of people may be unable to have a bank account. Wherever possible, we will try to help you to arrange one. This is the best way to avoid you losing your money or falling in to arrears. However, if it is not possible for you to arrange a bank account, we will pay you by cheque, which are more costly and more difficult to administer.

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We can take account of your childcare costs for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. This could mean that your benefit might increase.

If you pay childcare costs for one child, we could ignore up to £175 of your weekly earnings. This amount may increase to £300 a week if you pay childcare costs for two or more children. This does not mean that you would get £175 or £300 a week extra benefit. We would simply ignore the amount from your weekly income when we work out your benefit. The child must be under 15 (16 if a disabled child). The care must be provided by:

• a registered childminder;
• a registered nursery;
• a local authority on school premises out of school hours (for children aged 8-16);
• a childcare scheme on Crown property or when registration is not needed; or
• childcare approved for Tax Credit purposes.

• a single parent in paid work for 16 hours a week or more;
• a member of a couple, both of whom are in paid work for 16 hours a week or more each (see note below); or
• a member of a couple where one is in paid work for 16 hours or more and the other is 'incapacitated', in hospital or in prison (see notes below).

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You must tell us straight away if any circumstances which may affect your entitlement to benefit change. For example, changes in income, capital, a dependant child leaving school, or someone moving in or out of your property.

Click here to read our leaflet about reporting changes.

Click here to to find out the different ways you can tell us about your change in circumstances.

You may lose benefit if you do not tell us within one month of the change.

We may prosecute you if you give us false information.

Remember - Don't delay, do it today.

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Yes. If you are thinking of moving to a privately rented property you can find out about the maximum amount of rent that will be used to calculate your Housing Benefit before you commit to a tenancy agreement.

You can apply for a Pre-Tenancy Determination (PTD) by completing a form, which must be signed by you and the landlord you are thinking of renting from.

You can also ask for a PTD if you are already renting from a private landlord, your tenancy started at least 11 months before and you are negotiating a new agreement.

Please click here for a PTD application form.

From 7 April 2008, people who come under the Local Housing Allowance will be able to see the standard rates for the number of rooms you are entitled to. Click here for more information on Local Housing Allowance.

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Yes. You may be entitled to extra help to make up all or some of the difference. This is called a Discretionary Housing Payment. This is not a payment of benefit. We make it where it seems that you need extra help. There are conditions that must apply to your situation. You must qualify for Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit, and the amount you apply for cannot be more than your full rent or Council Tax, or include certain support or service charges.

Click here to print off a form to fill in and send to us to apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment. See the back of the form for more information and contact details.

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If you want us to consider paying you from an earlier date from when your application was received (this is called backdating), you must either tell us your reason on the application form or write to us giving your reasons. Click here for contact information.

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Please click here to learn more about reporting benefit fraud.

You can now notify us if you suspect benefit fraud by SMS text message. Text the word TELL followed by the word FRAUD and then the message you want to send to 82010.

This service is anonymous, so we won't know any details of the sender. You will be charged for the SMS at your standard rate.

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We will write to you to tell you about each decision we make about your benefit. If you are not sure about the decision you can ask for an explanation. If you don't think it is correct you can challenge our decision in two ways. You can ask for us to look at it again or you can appeal to an Independent Tribunal. You must ask for either of these in writing within one month of the decision you disagree with (unless you have special reasons for making the request late).

We will check our decision and let you know if there is any change. We will then pass your appeal to the Appeals Tribunal f you have asked for this. If you ask for us to look at it again and are still not happy with our decision you still have the option to go to the Appeals Tribunal. Click here to see our appeals leaflet including an appeals form to fill in.

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You can get an application form by calling into the Customer Service Centre in Angel Court in Colchester High Street. Or you can write to Financial Services, PO Box 886, Town Hall, Colchester CO1 1FP.

You can ask for a form by phoning 01206 282300 or e-mailing revenues.enquiries@colchester.gov.uk .

You can click here to download a Benefit Claim form

We operate an appointment system for people applying for Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit. If you wish to hand in your completed application form or need help filling it in please phone 01206 282300 or visit the Customer Service Centre in the High Street to book an appointment. We are open from 8.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday.

You are still able to post your application form directly if you do not need any assistance.

The date we receive your form will normally be the basis of when your claim will start.

We also need to see proof of your identity (National Insurance number), your income and savings, some money you may pay out, and your rent. We must see original documents. We cannot accept photocopies.

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You can contact us by phone on 01206 282300 or use our textphone service by phoning 18001 01206 282300. You can also call in to see us at our Customer Service Centre at Angel Court in Colchester High Street. We are open between 8.30am and 5.30pm, Monday to Friday.

Or email us at revenues.enquiries@colchester.gov.uk

You can fax us on 01206 282319.

Or write to us at Financial Services, Colchester Borough Council,PO Box 886, Town Hall, Colchester, CO1 1FP.

If you are already getting benefit from us and want to report a change in your circumstances, you can also email us at benefit.change@colchester.gov.uk

If you feel someone is acting dishonestly and getting benefit they shouldn't, phone our free hotline on 0800 731 1004 or text us using the word TELL followed by the word FRAUD and then the message you want to send to 82010 or email us at benefit.fraud@colchester.gov.uk

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The Citizens Advice Bureau
Cornerstone
5/7 Sir Isaac's Walk
Colchester CO1 1JJ
Phone: 08444 77 08 08

Open to visitors from 9.30am to 12.30pm, Monday to Friday.

Age Concern Colchester
Globe House
6 George Street
Colchester
CO1 1TP
Phone: 01206 368420
Fax: 01206 500984
E-mail: age@accolchester.freeserve.co.uk 

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Colchester Borough Council's Benefits Team will strive to provide a continuously improving customer focused Benefits Service by ensuring that we:

• Support people to live in decent housing and promote economic prosperity for the benefit of the whole community.
• Pay the right benefit to the right person every time, on time.
• Provide an accessible service, which is adequately resourced.
• Provide information and advice on all Benefits in a way the customer understands.
• Treat our customers with respect.
• Listen to, consult and encourage involvement from all customers and stakeholders.
• Be honest and open with the aim of resolving any complaints and disagreements quickly.
• Make all of our customers aware of their rights and avenues of dispute and/or appeal.
• Treat all information provided by our customers confidentially.
• Verify all claims for Benefit, thoroughly investigate cases where there is evidence of potential fraud, and prosecute when appropriate.
• Pursue overpayments appropriately.
• Value our staff by ensuring they are well trained, knowledgeable, professional, and expect them to be treated with respect by our customers.
• Provide consistent interpretation of the Regulations and use of discretionary powers.
• Regularly review procedures to improve efficiency without compromising quality.
• Investigate new technology to improve service delivery.
• Maximise Government funding.

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