Claiming Benefits

We will only be able to accept a new claim for Housing Benefit if you:

• are of pensionable age (if you are a couple, both of you must be of pensionable age) 

• are entitled to the Severe Disability Premium within your JSA (IB), ESA (IR), Income Support or Housing Benefit *

• live in exempt accommodation (that is from a charity or housing association and receive care or support as part of your rent)

• have been placed on temporary housing by the council.

If you don’t fall into one of these groups you will need to make a claim for Universal Credit for help with your housing costs (rent payments).

If you do fall into one of these categories, please read the information below.

* If you're unsure whether you receive a Severe Disability Premium within any benefit you receive, please speak to us or your DWP office for advice.

How do I apply?

You should make your Housing Benefit and or/Council Tax support claim directly to us, using the form below.

The form includes guidance on how to complete your claim and a list of the documents you need to give us to support your claim. We will accept electronic evidence via digital photos or scanned images. You can upload these directly to your claim form or email them to Benefit@huntingdonshire.gov.uk

To support your claim, you can print out any of the following forms which, once completed, can be uploaded to your claim or sent to us via email.

• Certificate of Earned Income [PDF, size unavailable]

• Self-Employed Earnings Form [PDF, size unavailable]

• Certificate of Child Care Costs [PDF, size unavailable]

• Proof of Rent Form [PDF, size unavailable]

• Housing Benefit Direct Payment Agreement [PDF, size unavailable]

• Sharing Information with Your Landlord or Agent [PDF, size unavailable]

Need help with your claim?

If you need help making your claim online, please call us on 01480 388308 and our advisers will help you with any questions you may have.

Can you backdate my claim?

If you are of working age, we can backdate your claim up to one month as long as you can give very good reasons for not making a claim earlier.

If you are of state pension credit age, we can backdate your claim up to three calendar months, depending on your circumstances.

See Backdating Your Housing Benefit [PDF, size unavailable] and Backdating Your Council Tax Support [PDF, size unavailable] for more information.

Other benefits

We deal with Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support. All other benefit enquiries are dealt with by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).