Local Housing Allowance

How do I make a claim?

When you want to make a claim, you should phone the housing and council tax benefit department at your local council to let them know that you want to make a claim. You can find the contact number in the phone book or on your council's website. They will then send you a claim form.

Make a note of the date and the name of the person you spoke to at the council. This is important because, if you are entitled to housing or council tax benefit, it will be paid from the Monday after the date you told the council you wanted to make a claim, not the date you actually handed your form in.

Where can I get a form?

There are two different types of claim forms:

• HCTB1 - provided by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP, formerly the Benefits Agency or DSS)
• council claim forms

You will find a HCTB1 included with some claim packs for other benefits, such as income-based jobseeker's allowance or income support. You can also download a copy from the DWP website.

You will be able to get a council form by phoning or visiting your local council office. You should only have to fill in either a HCTB1 or a council form - it should not be necessary for you to fill in both.

How do I fill in the form?

When you are filling in the form, try to give as much information as possible. Be honest - if you lie or withhold information you could end up being paid too much benefit and having to pay it back at a later date. You could even be prosecuted.

If you are having problems completing a form, get help. Help is available from Citizens Advice, your local council or other local advice centre. Use the Advice Services Directory to find agencies in your area.

Why do they ask so many questions?

Everyone's circumstances are different. It is difficult to have one form that will ask each person the right questions for their situation.

The housing/council tax benefit department also wants to get as big a picture as possible of your income and outgoings so they can work out how much benefit you will be entitled to.

Remember to answer every question or the department will send the form back to you, which will cause delay.

What information do I need to provide?

When you answer a question on the claim form, it will tell you whether you need to back this up with information. You can download a checklist of things that the housing/council tax benefit department might want to see.

If you cannot find all the information required, hand the form in to the council anyway. You have 28 days to submit all your information. If you are having difficulty getting information, you can get help from Citizens Advice or a welfare rights officer or you can speak to someone at the council.

If the housing/council tax benefit department do not receive the information within 28 days, they will cancel your claim, unless you let them know that you are having difficulties and that you are trying to get the information.

Where do I send the form?

The form should go to your local council office. If you have a council claim form, it will tell you the address on the form. Otherwise, you will find this information in the phone book or on the council's website.

Can I post the form?

This is allowed, but bear in mind that:

• if you post your form, you will not have a record that you posted it and you will have to send your original documents through the mail (things like passports and birth certificates are expensive to replace)
• if your form and your information do make it through the mail, they could still get lost in the council offices

If possible, it is always best to hand the form in to the council offices yourself. If this is not possible, you may want to send it by recorded delivery. You should keep a record of the date that you sent the form and details of any information you included.

Remember, housing benefit is usually paid from the Monday after your claim gets there. If your form goes missing, you could end up having to pay the rent yourself, as it will be your word against the council's that you posted the form.

Can I hand the form in myself?

Yes. This is the safest way to deliver your form. If you cannot go yourself, someone else can go for you. Even if there is a queue, you should wait and get a receipt for the form and any information you have provided. Ask for your documents to be photocopied there and then, so you can take the originals home with you.

Keep your receipt in a safe place. If the council misplaces your form after you have handed it in, you will need your receipt as evidence that you did hand it in.