Making your claim

Who can claim?

You can make a claim if:

• You have a liability to pay Rent or Council Tax or both
• You have a low income
• Your savings are less than £16,000 (there are different rules for people over 60)

You can find out how much you may be entitled to by answering the questions on the benefits calculator

How to claim (pdf)

How to claim will depend on whether or not you are receiving Income Support or Job Seekers Allowance.

If you are in receipt of Income Support / Job Seekers Allowance (income based)

The Department for Work and Pensions will give you a claim form to complete for Housing / Council Tax Benefit. This is called a HCTB1 form. You should fill it in and send it back to the Council.

If you are not in receipt of Income Support / Job Seekers Allowance (income based)

You will need to get a claim form direct from us. Fill it in and send it to us with full supporting original documentation (more details about this)

You can also get the Council's own form from:

• The Benefits Section - contact page
• Customer Services
• Nantwich Office 

If you need help filling in the form, or what information on claiming benefit, please contact the Benefits Section.

After you have filled in the form, send it to us straight away, or bring it in to Customer Services who will check that the form has been completed in full and issue you with a receipt for the form.

Please do not delay returning your form or supporting proof - you could lose benefit!

When will my benefit start?

Usually your benefit starts from the Monday after we receive your claim form. If you think your benefit should start earlier, you can say so on the form. You must tell us:

• the date you think your benefit should start
• the reason why you did not apply earlier

Or, you can complete the backdating benefit request form.