Housing benefit

The Council Tax and Benefits Section offers the services of trained staff to deal with Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. Home visits can be arranged for the elderly or disabled.

You do not have to be receiving Social Security Benefits in order to get Housing Benefit, and / or Council Tax Benefit. Benefits are designed to help those on a low income with housing costs and the Council Tax payments. They are 'means tested' Benefits - different awards will be granted depending on your personal circumstances. We will need to see evidence of all of your income and savings in order to complete the calculation. Other adults resident in the property are expected to contribute towards the Rent or Council Tax bill, therefore your Benefit may be reduced in order to accommodate this.

Note: Council Tax Benefit is not awarded against Water and Sewerage (Waste Water) elements of the charge - so even if you are entitled to maximum benefit, there will still be an amount to pay.

Following the introduction of the Pension Credit on 6th October 2003, the benefit schemes are more generous for people of pensionable age. This means that more people may be eligible for Council Tax Benefit and/or Housing Benefit. If you are of pensionable age and are not in receipt of one or both of these benefits, now may be the time to apply.

For further information, see the Related Links section below.

Housing Benefit Overpayments

You can Housing Benefit Overpayments using our secure payments facility.

Payment of Private Housing Benefit

Due to the current industrial action by the Post Office some Housing Benefit recipients have experienced delays in receiving their payments of Housing Benefit.

Payments of Private Housing Benefit can now be made by bank transfer (BACS).  This is our preferred method of payment as it is both fast and secure because payments are made via transfer directly into your bank/building society account.

If you would like to have your Housing Benefit paid by BACS we will accept your bank details over the telephone.   Please call our Customer Contact section on 08456080921 to arrange your Housing Benefit to be paid by this method.

Information we require you to provide

If you are the claimant and payments are being made direct to you:

• 1. Your Housing Benefit Reference number
• 2. Your Creditor reference (this can be found on the cheque under reference number)
• 3. Your National Insurance number (this is for verification only)
• 4. Your bank sort code and account number

Please note that if you hold a Post Office Card Account into which your State Benefits are paid, these accounts do not accept BACS payments of Housing Benefit so details of an alternative bank/building society account should be provided.

If you do not have a bank/building society account, please contact the above telephone number or any of the offices below.

If you are the landlord and receiving direct payments of Housing Benefit:

• 1. Your Creditor reference number (this can be found on the cheque under reference number or on the landlord payment schedule)
• 2. Your tenants Housing Benefit Reference number (this can be found on the landlord payment schedule)
• 3. Your bank sort code and account number

Council Offices

• Marischal College, Aberdeen City Council Customer Service Centre, Broad Street, Aberdeen, AB10 1AB.
• St Nicholas House, 1st Floor, St Nicholas House, Upperkirkgate, Aberdeen
• Mastrick Access Point
• Tillydrone Office, Formartine Road, Tillydrone, Aberdeen 

Contacts

• Visit us in person:
  Customer Service Centre
  Marischal College
  Broad Street
  Aberdeen
  AB10 1AB
  
  
• Write to us:
  Revenues and Benefits
  Aberdeen City Council
  Business Hub 16
  Marischal College
  Broad Street
  Aberdeen
  AB10 1AB
  Phone: 08456 080921
  Email: counciltax@aberdeencity.gov.uk
  
  

Frequently Asked Questions

• Can I get Housing Benefit if I rent a furnished property?
• Do I have to be a council tenant to claim housing benefit?
• Do you need to be unemployed to apply for housing benefit?
• Does Housing Benefit cover all my rent?
• How can I find out how much housing benefit I will get before I move in to a property?
• How can I find out how much housing benefit I will get before I move in to a property?
• How can I make a claim for Housing/Council Tax benefit?
• How do I claim housing benefit?
• How do other people living with me affect my housing benefit?
• How do the level of my savings affect my Housing and Council Tax Benefit claims?
• How do you work out my Housing Benefit?
• How long will it take to process my benefit application?
• How much housing benefit will I get?
• I have lost my job and can't pay my council tax. What should I do?
• I've recently become self-employed and don't have business accounts. Can I still apply for housing benefit?
• Should I continue to pay my rent and council tax whilst I await a decision on my application for Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit?
• What documentation do you need to assess my application for housing benefit?
• What does a Rent Officer do?
• What effect does having a non-dependant living with me have on my council tax and housing benefits?
• What happens if I am paid too much benefit?
• What is a 'non-dependant'?
• What is a Pre-Tenancy Determination?
• What is Housing Benefit?
• What is the 'applicable amount'?
• What savings do you consider when looking at my application for Housing and Council Tax Benefit?
• When are Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit awarded from?
• When should I get a pre-tenancy determination?
• Who cannot claim housing or council tax benefit?
• Who is not eligible to receive housing benefit?
• Why has the rent officer said I can only get œ35 a week housing benefit, when this doesn't cover my rent?