Housing and council tax benefit

Housing benefit

Housing benefit is a state benefit which helps people who are on a low income and living in rented accommodation to pay their rent. Depending on your income and circumstances, we may be able to pay up to 100 per cent of your rent less any service charges.

Local Housing Allowance

The Government has introduced a new form of housing benefit called Local Housing Allowance (LHA) which came into force in Plymouth on 7 April 2008. LHA in Plymouth applies to all new housing benefit claims from tenants who rent accommodation from private landlords. To find out more about this scheme, please visit the Local Housing Allowance pages. View the current LHA rates for Plymouth and surrounding areas.

Council tax benefit

Council tax benefit is a state benefit to help you pay your council tax. Depending on your income and family circumstances, you can receive up to a 100 per cent reduction in your council tax bill. Any council tax nenefit you are granted is used to reduce your council tax bill.

We are currently running a campaign to promote council tax benefit to make sure that people who are eligible are claiming. Even if you work or own your own home you may be entitled to help towards some or all of your council tax bill. Take a look at our campaign leaflet below to see if you could be eligible.

Council tax benefit leaflet [2MB]

Second Adult Rebate

Second Adult Rebate can be claimed if your income, savings or investments are too high for you to qualify for council tax benefit. You may claim second adult rebate if you have at least one non-dependant adult, who is on a low income, living with you. Under normal circumstances a partner or lodger will not entitle you to claim second adult rebate.

Although we administer housing and council tax benefit we have to work to regulations controlled by Central Government.

More information about housing benefit and council tax benefit is available at the Department for Works and Pensions (DWP) website.

If you wish to apply for housing and or council tax benefit do not use the application form available on the DWP website. Either write or telephone to us using the details to the right requesting a application form or download the application form available on this site.

This section of our website is to give you, the customer, immediate access to the services provided by the housing and council tax benefit department, and answers to your questions.

Instant access advice

For information on where you can find advice and guidance in crisis situations please read our Instant Access Advice document below.

Instant access advice [155KB]