How to claim benefit

To make a claim you will need to

• Submit a completed application form. Only one form is required to claim both council tax and housing benefit.
• Complete a Housing and Council Tax Benefit Application Form (199kb, PDF)
• Supply supporting information.

You need to submit this information to one of our offices.

Usually your benefit will start from the Monday after we receive your claim.

If you are under 60 years old

You can complete form HCTB(1). issued by the Jobcentre Plus Office if you apply for Income Support or Jobseekers allowance.

If you or your partner is over 60 years old

If you get Pension Credit

The Pension Service pays Pension Credits, but it does not cover rent or council tax. When you make a claim for a Pension Credit, if you claim by phone, the adviser will ask you if you want to claim housing benefit or council tax benefit (or both). The Pension Service will then send you an HCTB1 form. You need to send your form to the Warwick District Council Benefit Section.

When the Pension Service has assessed your entitlement to Pension Credits, they will tell us about this separately.

If you don't get Pension Credit

You may not get Pension Credit if your income or savings are too high; or you do not qualify for some other reason. If so, you must claim housing benefit or council tax benefit (or both) directly from us by filling in a claim form.

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