You can get housing benefit to help pay your rent if you (or your partner) are on a low income. This is called a Rent Allowance.
To make a claim please contact us on the details below, or fill in this form Benefit Application Form. Complete, sign and date the form and return it to the address shown. This form cannot be returned electronically to Tandridge. We must have the original completed and signed before we can process your claim
Housing benefit applies to rent you pay to the council or a private landlord. But it doesn't apply to rent or house-keeping you pay to relatives or friends. If you rent accommodation direct from the Council you can receive a rebate from your rent. This is called a Rent Rebate.
If you (and your partner) have savings or assets of more than £16,000, you cannot get housing benefit. This limit no longer applies to pensioners.
Examples of the type of rented accommodation you can be living in are:
The Council's Benefits Team, with the advice of the Rent Officer, considers what the claimant is paying for their rent when assessing the weekly amount of housing benefit that the claimant will receive.
Payments for amenities and personal services provided by the landlord and included in the rent for such items as gas, electricity and hot water will be deducted from the weekly rent figure before assessing the claimant's benefit award.
Private sector rents are referred to the Rent Officer, who decides if the rent is applicable for the property, based on the circumstances of the claimant. It is that figure, less any deductions of ineligible items, that benefit is calculated on.
If a claimant receives Income Support/Job Seekers Allowance (Income Based) from the Benefits Agency, there will be an amount included in their award for items such as gas, electricity etc, so they are deducted from the rent payable to avoid people getting the money twice.
For information on allowances the government can provide visit Department of Work and Pensions
For further information please contact Benefits on 01883 732900 or email benefits@tandridge.gov.uk. You can also call the 24 hour automated telephone information service on 08459 400 470.
Or you can write to us at:
Tandridge District Council
Station Road East
Oxted
Surrey
RH8 0BT
