Housing and council tax benefit for people who work

This is a general guide as people have different circumstances, so please contact us if you need more detailed advice about your personal circumstances.

How to contact the Benefits Section

What are Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit?

Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit are national welfare benefits which help people on a low income.

Housing Benefit is paid to people with a low income who pay rent.
Council Tax Benefit is paid to people with a low income who pay Council Tax.
There are two types of Council Tax Benefit.
- Main Council Tax Benefit
- Second Adult Rebate

For further details on Council Tax benefit please go to the following page Council tax benefit - Council tax benefit

Both Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit are means-tested benefits. This means that when we work out your benefit, we have to take account of things like your income, capital, and savings.

Local councils run the Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit schemes, using Government rules.

Can I claim Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit even though I work?

Yes you can, but the more you earn, the less benefit you are likely to get. You should apply to find out if you are entitled. Just contact us for an application form, our contact details are at the bottom of this page. You can also download a form using the following link - application form 129 kb, 34 pages, pdf.

I'm self-employed – can I claim Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit?

Yes you can. You need to give us proof of your self-employed earnings and you can contact us for more information about what we need.

How do I claim Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit?

You need to complete an application form.

If you don't have all the proof of income and capital we need, don't delay sending in your form as you may lose benefit. We can always ask for any more information once we have received your application.

We have another page called 'How to claim Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit' which gives you more details - How to claim Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit

What proof will you need to see of my earned income?

We will need to see:

five payslips if you are paid every week
two payslips if you are paid every month or
three payslips if you are paid every two weeks.

Your payslips must be the most recent ones when you make your claim.

What if I've just started work and I'm not sure what my wages will be?

In this case you can ask your employer to tell us what you are likely to earn.

Then, when you get your payslips, you can send them to us so we can reassess your earnings.

Do you ignore any of my earnings?

Yes, we ignore a set amount of your earnings every week. The amount we ignore depends on your circumstances.

We count the money you earn from work after money has been taken out for:

tax and National Insurance contributions; and
half of any money you pay into a pension fund.

We also do not count the first:

£5 of the money you earn each week, if you are single;
£10 of the money you earn each week, if you are a couple;
£20 of the money you earn each week, if you are disabled; or
£25 of the money you earn each week, if you are a single parent.

And, if you work 30 hours or more, we also ignore an extra amount from your earnings.

What other proof will I need to provide apart from earnings?

We need to see proof of any other income, for example Child Benefit, as well as any savings or capital you have.

We also need proof of your and your partner's National Insurance number, and we may also ask you to provide proof of identity for both of you.

Our form usually tells you what you need to provide, but if you're not sure you can always contact us for help.

I work and have a child. Do you take account of the childcare costs I have to pay?

Yes we do. We can ignore an amount for childcare costs from your earnings, but the childcare must be with an approved childcare provider.

Please contact us for more information.

Can I get advice on how much Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit I can get if I start work?

Yes, just contact us with details of your expected earnings and other income details and we should be able to give you an estimate of how much Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit (or both) you could get.

Is there any extra financial help available to help me back into work?

Yes there is extra financial help available.

If you go back to work and your Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance ends, you should be entitled to an Extended Payment of your Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit (or both) for up to four weeks.

You must have been receiving Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance for six months before starting work, and the work should be expected to last for at least five weeks.

Make a claim for it at the Benefits Agency, Employment Service or Jobcentre Plus, and don't forget to tell us at the same time.

What should I do if anything changes when I'm getting benefit?

You should tell us straightaway if your circumstances change.

It might affect how much you get, and if you don't tell us you may lose benefit.

If you don't tell us about a change and we pay you too much benefit, you may have to pay it back.

More details are on the pages 'Changes you need to tell us about if you are claiming Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit' and 'What happens if you've been paid too much Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit'.

Changes you need to tell us about if you are claiming Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit

What happens if you've been paid too much Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit

What can I do if I don't agree with your decision?

If you don't agree with our decision, you can ask us to look at it again. Our letters tell you what your rights are.

More details are on the page 'What to do if you disagree with a Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit decision'.

Where can I get help?

You can always contact us for help and advice.

Or, you could contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau or Welfare Rights Service. Details are in your local phone book.

What if I want to comment on your service?

You should get in touch with us. We would like to know what you think about these pages or about the service we provide to you.