Self service and forms
From 22 February 2017 you cannot make a new claim for Housing Benefit (HB) in this area unless you are in one of the groups that can still make a claim. If you cannot claim Housing Benefit you will need to claim Universal Credit (UC).
Check if you can still claim Housing Benefit
If you claim UC your rent will be paid by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) but you will need to make a claim for Council Tax Reduction (CTR) with us.
If you have provided an email address and we need further information from you, we will email the letter rather than posting it.
Please check your inbox regularly, failure to respond to us within one month for Housing Benefit or 28 days for Council Tax Reduction may result in your claim being suspended or cancelled.
You can provide an up to date email address to Benefit Services using our form.
Before you fill in this form
You won't be able to save this form to complete later, so please allow yourself at least five minutes to fill in the form.
You will need:
Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction number
National Insurance number
Log in or register for a benefits account
The benefits account allows you to find out what information we are using to work out your benefit; when payments are due and sign up to receive benefits letters electronically.
Log in / register for a benefits account
Authority to discuss form
Authority to Discuss (ATD) is where you can give a third party permission to discuss your claim with us. You can use the following form to give ATD to a third party. The document will need to be printed, completed and returned using the address at the top of it.
Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction scheme
Council Tax Reduction is applied to your Council Tax account and will reduce your Council Tax bill by the amount we calculate you can receive (this will depend on your income and circumstances). You are able to upload documents when you use the online application form.
Apply for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction
Changes in your circumstances
The law states you need to tell us about any change to the information we have used to calculate your entitlement to Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction. This includes a change of address.
You are able to upload documents when you use the online change in circumstances form.
Report a change in your circumstances
Direct payment to landlord form
If you would like payment of Housing Benefit to be made directly to your landlord you will need to print, complete and return the form below. You only need to complete this form if you are a tenant of a private landlord (you will need a printer).
Direct payment to landlord form
Discretionary Housing Payments, discretionary Council Tax Reduction or Universal Credit Housing Support
If the amount of Housing Benefit, Universal Credit Housing Element or Council Tax Reduction is not enough, and you have special circumstances, you can ask for help.
Apply for a discretionary payment
Employers certificate of earnings
If you need to provide proof of your earnings but you do not have wage slips you can print, complete and return the following form (you will need a printer).
Employers certificate of earnings
Income and expenses form
If you would like us to reduce the amount of money we are deducting from your benefit to recover an overpayment you will need to complete this form.
Before you fill in this form
You won't be able to save this form to complete later, so please allow yourself five minutes to fill it in.
Nil income statement
If you are not receiving benefits, have little or no income, or if you're getting payments (loans, contributions) from friends and family to help you get by, you can complete a Nil income statement.
Before you fill in this form
You won't be able to save this form to complete later, so please allow yourself up to five minutes to fill in the form.
Occupation confirmation form
If you have made a claim for benefit prior to your moving in date, you may need to complete this form to confirm when you moved in.
Before you fill in this form
You won't be able to save this form to complete later, so please allow yourself up to five minutes to fill in the form.
Self employed questionnaire
If you run your own business or work for yourself, you will need to complete this form to tell us about your income and expenses.
Before you fill in this form
You won't be able to save this form to complete later, so please allow yourself up to 10 minutes to fill in the form.
Although this online form can be completed on a mobile phone, due to the length of this form we recommend you use a desktop, laptop or tablet.
Temporary absence statement
Housing benefit can be paid if you are away from home for 4, 13 or 52 weeks, depending on your circumstances. If you are going to be away from your home, please let us know.
Submit a temporary absence statement
