Council Tax Benefit
Council Tax Benefit is available if you are on a low income and are liable to pay council tax.
These are some quick links to frequently asked questions. If the information you need is not here, please contact the Benefits Service.
Can
I claim Council Tax Benefit?
How is benefit worked out?
How can I apply for Council Tax Benefit?
I am over 60. Are there any different rules for me?
What do I need to provide with my claim form?
When will my benefit start?
How
is my benefit paid?
What
can I do if I don't agree with the amount of benefit I have been
awarded?
Is there any other help I can claim for?
What is a change in circumstances?
What should I do if there is a change in my circumstances?
What is Second Adult Rebate and who can can claim it?
(pdf)
Where can I get more information about Council Tax?
I get Council Tax Benefit and am starting work. Are there any special rules for me?
I am moving within Wealden's area. Do I need to reapply for benefit?
When will my benefit be reviewed?
Can I claim Council Tax Benefit?
Yes, if you or your partner are liable for Council Tax. By partner, we mean someone to whom you are married or you and your partner are an unmarried couple.
How is benefit worked out?
Council Tax Benefit is based on the money you (and your partner) have coiming in, your savings, the number and ages of people in your household and how much Council Tax you pay.
Deductions are made from your income for income tax, National Insurance and half of any pension you pay into.
If you pay for childcare (from a registered childcare provider), this can be disregarded up to a maximum amount, depending on the number of children being cared for. Some state benefits are disregarded in full.
If you have more than £16,000 in savings, you will not qualify for benefit unless you are over 60 and you receive Guarantee Pension Credit. The property you live in does not count as savings.
You can find out how much you could claim by using our benefits calculator.
Students do not usually qualify for council tax benefit but there are exceptions. Contact the Benefits Service for more information.
How can I apply for Council Tax benefit?
You will need to complete an application form and provide documentation to support your claim.
Click here to request your Council Tax benefit application form online
Or Application forms are
available from:
The Benefits Service
Wealden District Council
Council Offices
Vicarage Lane
Hailsham
East Sussex
BN27 2AX
or:
The Benefit Service
Wealden District Council
Council Offices
Pine Grove
Crowborough
East Sussex
TN6 1 DH
Telephone: 01323 443500
Fax: 01323 443333
Email: benefits@wealden.gov.uk
Or any of the following:
Citizen's Advice
Bureau in Hailsham, Uckfield, Crowborough or Tunbridge
Wells
InfoPoint, 1 Market Square, Hailsham
Anchor Staying Put, 32/33 Vicarage Fields, Hailsham
Pevensey Bay and District Information and Caring Centre, Sea Road, Pevensey Bay
Carrillon Cottage, High Street, Wadhurst
Heathfield Parish Council, 92 High Street, Heathfield
Forest Row Parish Council, The Forest Row Community Centre, Hartfield
Road, Forest Row
Maresfield Parish Council, Parish Office, Churchfields, Nutley
East Hoathly with Halland Parish Council, c/o The Post Office,
2 High St.,East Hoathly.
What do I need to provide with my claim form?
You will need to provide proof of your and your partner's income and savings. You will also have to provide one form of identity for yourself and your partner. You will also have to provide proof of your National Insurance Number(s). Anything you send us should be an original document.
If you are self-employed and don't have certified accounts, you can download an Income from Self-employment form which you can complete and send back to us with your application form.
When you have made your claim, we will write to you if we need more information.
When will my benefit start?
Council Tax Benefit will usually
start from the Monday after we receive your application or the date that you first contact us to say you want to claim.
There are circumstances when we may 'backdate' your benefit.
If you would like us to consider a request for benefit to be backdated, you need to show that there was a good reason as to why you did not apply earlier.
This is an example of a "good reason" to backdate benefit: You were seriously ill at the time you should have claimed and you claimed as soon as you were better. There was no-one else to help you claim.
This is an example that is not a "good reason" to backdate benefit: You did not claim because you did not think you would qualify.
We will deal with each case individually and when we let you know our decision, we will tell you what to do if you disagree with it. There is a section in the application form for you to complete if you would like us to consider backdating your benefit.
How is my benefit paid?
Council Tax Benefit is awarded in advance and is credited to your council tax account. If an award of benefit puts your account in credit, we will usually refund this money to you.
What can I do if I don't agree with the amount of benefit I am awarded?
Firstly, if you think we have worked out your benefit incorrectly or you disagree with the figures we have used, you can ask us to look at your claim again. When we tell you how much benefit you are awarded, we will give you more information about how to do this.
If you still disagree, you can appeal against our decision and this will be heard by an independant tribunal called The Tribunals Service.
You can also request that your benefit is backdated if you disagree with the date we have made the award from. There are strict guidelines for councils about this and you will need to show that you have good cause as to why you did not apply earlier.
Is there any other help I can claim for?
If, after you have been awarded benefit, you are finding it difficult to meet your rent or council tax payments, you can apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment. You will have to provide details of your income and all of your outgoings together with any information that you think would be relevant, for example details about any health problems you have. If you would like more information about Discretionary Housing Payments please look at our policy.
What should I do if there is a change in my circumstances?
You must contact the Benefits Service and tell us about the change. We may ask for more information or proof of the change in order that your benefit is worked out correctly. Any delay in notifying us could result in an overpayment of benefit which is repayable by you.
You can tell us a bout a change in your circumstance by using this form.
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I get Council Tax Benefit and am starting work. Are there any different rules that apply to me?
If you come off Income Support, income-based Job Seeker's Allowance or Guarantee Pension Credit you no longer have to reapply for Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit. Instead, we will reassess your benefit based on your new earnings.
You will have to write to us and send us proof of these earnings (5 weekly payslips or 2 monthly payslips) together with proof of any Tax Credits that you have claimed. If you don't have any proof of your earnings you can ask your employer to write to tell us how much you will be earning. You can find out more about Tax Credits on the Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs website.
You will also need to tell us if there have been any other changes in your circumstances.
I am moving within Wealden's area. Do I have to reapply for benefit?
No. You only need to tell us the date that you moved into your new home and about any changes to your income, savings or the people who live with you. We may send you a short form.
When will my benefit be reviewed?
In the past we had to review your claim at least once a year but we don't have to do that now. Instead each year we will choose some claims to review. These will be those claims where there is most likely to have been a change in circumstances.
This means that it is even more important for you to tell us when something has changed as we cannot promise to review your claim each year.
