Housing Benefit

a guide

We hope this guide will help you understand more about Housing Benefit, who can receive it and how to apply for it.

Many of our tenants are eligible for help with their rent. You may be entitled to Housing Benefit if you are on a low income, small pension, or are in receipt of other benefits. In this guide we will help you to understand: ❚❚ What is Housing Benefit? ❚❚ Who gets Housing Benefit? ❚❚ How do you apply for Housing Benefit? ❚❚ When should you apply for Housing Benefit? ❚❚ What can you do if you do not agree with the amount of benefit? ❚❚ Why is it important to keep your details up to date?

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INFORMATION You can contact Scarborough Borough Council for a Housing Benefit claim form and full details of the conditions that apply. Tel. 0800 083 0428

Universal Credit In October 2013 the Government will be switching to the Universal Credit – we will update our advice closer to the time. This will affect many current benefits and tax credits – including Housing Benefit.

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What is Housing Benefit?

Housing Benefit is a scheme managed by the Benefits Section at Scarborough Borough Council (SBC) to help people pay their rent. As a tenant of Yorkshire Coast Homes (YCH) you may be able to receive Housing Benefit. The amount of weekly Housing Benefit that you get depends on: ❚❚ Income levels of the people in your home ❚❚ Your rent amount ❚❚ Your personal circumstances Costs covered by

Costs not covered by

Housing Benefit

Housing Benefit

(if included in rent) ❚❚ Communal laundry facilities ❚❚ Furniture and household equipment ❚❚ Cleaning of communal areas ❚❚ Services connected

❚❚ Gas and electricity ❚❚ Heating and lighting ❚❚ Water rates ❚❚ Warden care charges ❚❚ Meals ❚❚ Garage

with the provision of adequate accommodation i.e. general management costs, lifts, gardens and rubbish removal

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Who gets Housing Benefit? You may be able to receive Housing Benefit if you are: ❚❚ Over 16 years of age ❚❚ Responsible for paying rent for where you live ❚❚ Living on a low income ❚❚ Have savings of less than £16,000 If you receive Income Support or Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance your rent could be paid in full except for costs outlined in the table. You will have to pay for these costs yourself. If you receive contribution-based Jobseeker’s Allowance some rent will be payable by you. The Housing Benefits Section at the Council will write and tell you how much Housing Benefit you will get.

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How do you apply for Housing Benefit? The easiest way to apply for Housing Benefit is to complete a claims form, which you can get by: Tel. 0800 0830428 (Housing Benefit Section direct line open 9:30-4:45 Monday to Friday) Email. [email protected] In person. Visit any Council or YCH office

If you need help filling in a form, please telephone us to arrange a time when we can visit you: Scarborough Tel. 0845 065 56 56 Whitby Tel. 0845 065 57 57 Although someone can complete the form on your behalf, the person making the claim must sign the claim form.

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INFORMATION If you are housebound or ill, elderly or have difficulty getting around, contact us and we will happily come out to your home to discuss.

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IMPORTANT Housing Benefit must be applied for directly to the local authority. You are not entitled to Housing Benefit simply because you receive Income Support or Jobseeker’s Allowance.

What else will you need to provide? The Housing Benefit Section at the Council will need proof of: ❚❚ Personal identification ❚❚ Your earned income or benefits, savings and any other income that you have ❚❚ Non dependant earnings ❚❚ Savings e.g. original bank statements, building society passbooks, post office books, share certificates, premium bonds and national savings certificates, child benefit, tax credits and proof of other benefits received such as incapacity benefit

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INFORMATION All information that you provide in support of your claim must be original and not photocopies.

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When should you apply for Housing Benefit?

You should claim Housing Benefit as soon as the need arises, as you could lose money if you delay in claiming. It is your responsibility to ensure that your claim for Housing Benefit is reviewed at the appropriate time. Housing Benefit can only be backdated in special circumstances and if you can show you had good reason for not claiming earlier (for example, if you have been seriously ill and nobody else has been able to claim on your behalf).

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IMPORTANT Whilst your claim is being assessed you must ensure your rent is paid.

As there may be delays in the assessment of your claim, rent arrears may appear on your rent account. We can give guidance on how much rent you will have to pay so please ask us for help or advice.

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What can you do if you do not agree with the amount of benefit?

If you feel that either your benefit entitlement or any overpayment of benefit is wrong you have the right to appeal. Your appeal should be made in writing to the Benefits Section of the Council and must be within one calendar month of the date of the letter advising you about your benefit: The Benefits Office P.O. Box 148, Town Hall, St Nicholas Street, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, YO11 2ZH

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Why is it important to keep your details up to date?

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IMPORTANT It is important that you immediately inform the Housing Benefits Section at the Council of any changes in your personal circumstances. For example – someone moving in or out of your property; an increase or decrease in your income; an increase or decrease in your savings; or your children turning 18 years of age or leaving school.

If you do not tell the Housing Benefits Section your details have changed you may be paid too much or too little benefit. In the case of being paid too much benefit, the overpayment will be taken back from you at a later date. If you deliberately withhold information about a change in your circumstances, the Council may treat this as fraud – this could lead to prosecution. When you report a change to the Council always ask for a receipt and keep it safe as this will be proof that you reported the change. Housing Benefit is not granted on two homes, so if you plan to move home please contact the Council or YCH for further advice. The Council will not pass on the information you give them to anyone else unless you have given them permission. 13

Your feedback Listening to your suggestions and complaints is a valuable way for us to improve our service delivery. We are keen to know what you think we did well, and what you think we could improve. If you would like to share your views with us (on any aspect of our service) please contact us: Customer Services Team Brook House, 4 Gladstone Road, Scarborough, YO12 7BH Tel. 0845 065 56 56 Email. [email protected] If you have a compliment for a particular member of staff we make sure they are told about it and log it on their personnel record.

Copies of this leaflet can be made available in large print, Braille, or in audio format, as well as in other languages on request.

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How to contact us Yorkshire Coast Homes Brook House, 4 Gladstone Road, Scarborough, YO12 7BH Tel. 0845 065 56 56 Fax. 01723 343055 Email. [email protected] Web. www.ych.org.uk Opening hours: Monday to Friday 8:30-5:00 Northern Area Office The Coliseum, Victoria Place, Whitby, YO21 1EZ Tel. 0845 065 57 57 Fax. 01947 825424 Opening hours: Monday to Friday 8:30-5:00 Eastfield Area Office Eastfield Community Resource Centre, High Street, Eastfield, Scarborough, YO11 3LL Opening hours: Monday 09:30-7:00 Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 09:30-5:00 Thursday 09:30-1:00 Saturday 09:30-12:00 YCH staff are only available at the Eastfield Office between 09:00-5:00 – at other times a shared service operates in partnership with North Yorkshire Library staff who will do their best to answer any queries you may have. Emergency Repairs Tel. 01723 351558 15

Yorkshire Coast Homes Brook House 4 Gladstone Road Scarborough YO12 7BH Tel. 0845 065 56 56 Web. www.ych.org.uk Email. [email protected] Twitter. @YCHscarboro Facebook. YCHscarboro © Yorkshire Coast Homes 2012 HBAG/001