Housing Benefit / Council Tax Reduction in Scotland - advice needed

tp70

Hi there,

New to the Forum here and initially looking for some advice regarding Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Reduction.

I am 43 years old, currently working 20 hours a week on minimum wage and rent a 1 bedroom flat (living on my own) through a private landlord. When i took out the tenancy i was working full time but for personal reasons the job did not work out and i am now in the part time job, hence my questions regarding any entitlement to Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Reduction.

Long term i do plan to find full time employment, but with the current situation i am in and until that changes, i am having to take this route.

If anyone is able to advise or point me in the right direction regarding this, that would be great.

If any further information is required, please ask away.

Thank you.

BigAunty

Shelter Scotland or your local council website will have good information on how housing benefit works in the private sector, including the Local Housing Allowance rate for a 1 bedroom property which caps the maximum you can receive in HB regardless of the rent charged by the landlord.

If you've not claimed HB in the past year, I believe you can qualify for a 13 week period of protection where full HB is paid so do look into that.

If there is a shortfall after this between your rent and your HB, you could apply for discretionary housing payment though not everyone who asks, gets it and it's only temporary anyway but do look into that.

The Turn2us online benefit calculator will indicate your likely HB payout and your council tax reduction.

You apply for HB and council tax discount with your local council.

jobbingmusician

Surprisingly reassuring information elicited by a simple Google.... http://scotland.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/advice_topics/paying_for_a_home/housing_benefit

Crossed with BigAunty's reply, which is even better

tp70

Hi there,

Thanks for the replies. I have checked the Turn2Us Online Calculator and the one on here (EntitledTo) and although they both state what i am entitled to they appear to be different with regards to the amounts. I assume they are both just estimates and think one took more information so that should be taken into account as well.

I have never actually claimed Housing Benefit before so this is all new to me.

Think my next step should at least be to go down to local Council Office and get the correct forms from them to apply for the Benefits.

Will have a good read through the Shelter Scotland site shortly.

Thanks.

Horseunderwater

Before you go there, check if they do the applic on line most do now. Mine does. It is usually a combined form.

tp70

Just checked. Can print off the form, it is a combined one. And need to hand it in so can do that tomorrow.

Thanks.